July 08, 2024 - The Alliance of Concerned Teachers (ACT) Philippines launched its Bantay Balik-Eskwela Hotline today, July 8, 2024, to monitor the state of public schools nationwide as the opening of School Year 2024-2025 approaches.
ACT Chairperson Vladimer Quetua expressed concerns regarding the upcoming National Learning Camp (NLC), Brigada Eskwela, enrollment process, and overall school preparedness. He highlighted recurring issues similar to those faced in previous school years.
"We want to ensure proper compensation for teachers rendering services during supposed vacation periods, such as the NLC, Brigada Eskwela, and enrollment," Quetua said. "We also aim to prevent the imposition of mandatory donations from teachers, parents, and students for school supplies and resources."
ACT pointed to a Department of Education (DepEd) report from March 2024 citing a significant shortage of classrooms, teachers, and learning materials. They contrasted this with the recent government purchase of fighter jets for P18.9 billion, an amount that could have funded the construction of over 7,500 classrooms.
"We urge the government to scrap the 15-day service credit limit and allocate more funds for classroom repair and preparation," Quetua emphasized. "Most importantly, we call for a significant increase in the education budget, reaching at least six percent of GDP, to address these critical shortages."
The ACT Bantay Balik-Eskwela Hotline offers multiple channels for reporting:
- Mobile numbers: 09569130778 (Globe) and 09684801168 (Smart)
- Email: actphilippines@gmail.com
- Facebook:
fb.com/actph1982
"We encourage teachers, parents, and education personnel to report their experiences and challenges in preparing for the school year," Quetua concluded. "Share your concerns, along with photos and videos, through the Bantay Balik-Eskwela Hotline."