On Teachers’ Day: Aquino vows better training, equipment for educators

President Benigno Aquino III promised to give Filipino educators better training, classrooms and related equipment on Tuesday during the celebration of World Teachers’ Day.

Aquino said the bigger budget allocation for the education sector next year aims to help teachers, who he called his administration’s “partners” in facing the challenges he inherited from the past presidency.

“Bahagi po ito ng ating paninindigan: ang pera ng taumbayan ay dapat na mapunta sa taumbayan lamang. Sa ating Reform Budget, mapopondohan natin ang teacher-training programs, madadagdagan ang mga classroom, at matutugunan ang mga kulang na kagamitan,” he said in a speech before teachers in Pasig City on Tuesday.

(This is part of our commitment: the people’s money should go only to the people. In our Reform Budget, we will be able to fund teacher-training programs, add more classrooms, and provide lacking equipment.)

The President added that the Department of Education (DepEd) is already undertaking projects to identify areas in need of school supplies and classrooms, and to further extend assistance to poor teachers.

“Marami po ang minana nating mga suliranin sa edukasyon. Makakaasa po kayong hindi ako magbubulag-bulagan sa mga problemang kailangan nating solusyunan,” he said. (We inherited many problems in education. Rest assured that I won’t play blind to the problems that need solutions.)

Aquino likewise lauded Filipino educators for devoting “time, sweat, and for some, their own lives” to their chosen profession.

The President also acknowledged teachers’ “increasing” role in the today’s world, which he said is filled with technological advances that “weaken” the youth’s moral fiber.

“Sa mga pagkakataong ito, kayo ang nagsisilbing gabay upang kanilang masundan ang mga wastong desisyon sa buhay. Batid ninyong edukasyon ang sisiguro sa magandang kinabukasan ng kabataan, na sila ang magsisilbing puhunan ng ating bayan,” he said.

(In times like these, you serve as their guides so they can follow the right decisions in life. You are aware that it is education that will ensure a bright future for the youth, who in turn will serve as the country’s capital.)

World Teachers’ Day has been held annually on October 5 since 1994, to commemorate the anniversary of the signing in 1966 of the UNESCO/ILO Recommendation Concerning the Status of Teachers.

In observance of World Teachers’ Day, militant party-list group Alliance of Concerned Teachers (ACT) earlier reiterated its call for salary raises for Filipino educators, especially those in public schools, saying that teachers have become “undervalued” members of society. (See: On World Teacher’s Day, educators seek higher wages)

In its proposed budget for 2011, the Aquino government allocated P207.27 billion for basic education — a P32-billion increase from the budget this year.—Andreo C. Calonzo/JV, GMANews.TV