Teachers sound alarm: Coalition urges DepEd chief to cut class hours under new MATATAG curriculum
PHOTO by The EdLines.
The Teachers Dignity Coalition (TDC) has urged Education Secretary Sonny Angara to suspend the implementation of the MATATAG Curriculum and DepEd Order No. 5, s. 2024, just a week after the school year began.
TDC National Chair Benjo Basas reported that many teachers are already feeling overwhelmed, with some expressing a desire to quit after just the first day of classes.
The coalition has received numerous reports of teachers working six hours or more, with some managing multiple grade levels and teaching subjects outside their expertise.
“Marami ang nagsasabi na isang linggo pa lang ay pagod na sila. Yung iba nga, unang araw pa lang ay gusto nang sumuko [Many people say that after just one week, they are already tired. Some even want to give up on the first day],” Basas said in a statement.
The TDC claimed that the MATATAG initiative, meant to simplify the curriculum and cut down subjects, has backfired.
Instead, class hours have increased, and new programs like the National Mathematics and National Reading Programs have added more pressure on students and teachers.
DepEd Order No. 5, signed by former Education Secretary Sara Duterte in April, aims to manage teachers’ workloads and offer overtime pay for those teaching over six hours.
However, the TDC argues that this policy threatens teachers’ rights and may harm the quality of education.
“Hindi kailanman magiging makatarungan na pahirapan ang mga guro gamit ang mga polisiyang ginawa para magbigay ng kaginhawaan sa amin [It will never be fair to burden teachers with policies that were made to provide us with relief],” Basas said.
Last week, the TDC asked for a meeting with Angara to discuss these issues. They argued that the six-hour teaching requirement conflicts with the Magna Carta for Public School Teachers, which allows flexible teaching hours.
Meanwhile, Senator Sherwin Gatchalian has proposed a bill to amend the Magna Carta, limiting teaching hours to four. This bill is pending in the Senate.
The TDC believes this proposal is a good model for DepEd to consider, as it is based on a study by the Senate Basic Education Committee.
