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Arroyo’s magic formula

Gloria Arroyo has found the magic formula for solving the problems of the country: Change the definition.

She brags that she has reduced the number of unemployed Filipinos despite the fact that factories are closing down and you see more and more Filipinos without jobs.

What she did was change the meaning of “unemployed.” Whereas before, unemployed meant adults who had no job, she changed it to number of adult population looking for a job. Those who are jobless but not looking for a job, for one reason or another, are not considered unemployed. Thus, her statistics show a reduction in the number of unemployed Filipinos.

She again used the same formula in solving the perennial problem of classroom shortage at last Tuesday’s cabinet meeting. Education OIC Fe Hidalgo, in her presentation in a cabinet meeting of the state of public schools timed for next week’s school opening, reported that there is a classroom shortage of 6,832.

It was one of the rare cabinet meetings that was opened to the media because Arroyo wanted to make it an occasion where she could again paint a rosy picture of the country under her supposed brilliant administration, a continuation of her Enchanted Kingdom theme.

We all saw on TV and read in newspapers how she got mad when Hidalgo’s figures didn’t show a perfect world. There is a shortage of almost 7,000 classrooms based on the ratio of 45 pupils to one classroom.

She reminded Hidalgo that last year, they had agreed to use a 100 to 1 ratio because they increased the class size to 50 and since there are two shifts in one day, 100 students use one classroom.

“We have to present our accomplishments,” the great magician said.

A humiliated Hidalgo went back to the Department of Education, did some dagdag-bawas, and came back to Malacañang with a glowing report that there is no more classroom shortage.

See how easy it is?

Now, how do you tell that to students and teachers in the remote barrios who have to hold their classes under a tree? How do you tell that to students and teachers who share the room with two other classes divided only by a bulletin board?

Arroyo should tell that to the students and teachers of Baesa High School in Caloocan City. Benjo Basas, spokesperson of Teachers Dignity Coalition said initial enrollees in Baesa High School have already reached 3,245. They have only 21 classrooms. Since they hold two classes in two shifts, each class would have 78 students. No classroom shortage?

Recently-resigned Education Undersecretary Mike Luz , in a statement, said the original figures on 6,832 classroom shortage presented by Hidalgo in the cabinet meeting “are real figures as far as I can make out.”

He said they are based on the DepED data-base which covers all 41,352 elementary and secondary schools, excluding annexes. “In schoolyear 2006-07, DepEd expects to enroll 12.4 million elementary pupils and 5.5 million secondary students. To go on single-shift throughout the country, there is in fact a real shortage of 74,115 classrooms. To go double-shift at 50 students per class (the President’s preferred strategy), that shortage is 6,832 which Secretary Hidalgo reported.”

The problem of classroom shortage is not merely numbers that can be solved by wily mathematics. The bottom line here is: Are Filipino children learning better under a two-shift, 50 or more to a classroom set-up?

Luz explained that in the Philippines, 45 students per class is the “adopted ideal given our current realities (in Singapore, Malaysia, and Thailand the norm is 25-30 per class). What has happened over the past years due to (a) continued high population growth rate and (b) a significantly large transfer of students from private high schools to public high schools is that class sizes have ballooned to closer to 65 per class on average, with some reaching upwards of 90 in extreme cases.”

He said: “To deal with this problem of overcrowding, DepEd embarked on an interim strategy in SY 2003-2004 (under Secretary Edilberto de Jesus) to do double-shifts in the most overcrowded schools so that classrooms could be used TWICE in one day. Hence, the “classroom-to-student” ratio is actually twice the number of students per class because the room is used twice a day by two classes (morning and afternoon) rather than by just one class (for the entire day).”

But he himself admitted that ” a classroom should only be used by one class per day (especially in the higher grades) because double or even triple-shifting takes away class time from students. And as everyone should know, cutting short class time will only serve to cut short learning time. If students don’t learn because they have less time in class, that is the crux of the low achievement problem.”

Classroom shortage is just one of the manifestations of the disaster that has become of our education system. The worst of it is having a president who has no qualms of fudging data just to be able to boast accomplishments. It’s cheating.

Published inMalaya

396 Comments

  1. E-mail from Narciso Ner:
    The actuation of Gloria Macapagal Arroyo on the presentation of the acting secretary of the Department of Education, Usec Hidalgo contradicting the data being presented with regards to the shortages of classrooms and ordering it revised clearly shows though not surprising the kind of “president” this virago is. She is indeed a doctor having doctored the economic figures, crime statistics, poll results and now this. This immoral, incompetent and illigitimate president is a hopeless case. She is no doubt a LIAR, a CHEAT and a THIEF. Master of DECEIT and Queen of HYPOCRITES!

    The lamentable state of our public school system is no secret but teachers and principals have kept their silence until now. Even the media have made known its disgust by showing TV footage of hallway, stairs, computer room, library and even a toilet being used as classrooms.

    It is disappointing that an educator like Usec Hidalgo succumbed to the pressure and tantrums of Gloria Macapal Arroyo and trashed TRUTH and PRINCIPLE, It is high time that those in the government mend their ways and stop emulating and patronizing this immoral, incompetent and illigitimate president who is leading our beloved country and people to PERDITION.

    God Help the Philippines!

    Narciso Ner
    Fort Bonifacio

  2. myrna myrna

    yan ang madyikera! and now the nerve of her thief/cheat of a husband accusing erap that he is dreaming or in a fantasy world? sa totoo lang, yung testimony ni erap, totoo namang mga nangyari. (read ninez’ columns in today’s daily tribune).

    sabagay, galit si pidal at inakusahan si erap na nananaginip, kasi nga galit, dahil dapat siguro, monopoly lang nilang mag-asawang arrovo ang fantasy, like…..enchanted kingdom???? yan talaga ang fantasy.

    Ellen, ang mga public schools dito sa NZ, maging elementary o high school, marami na ang 30 sa isang klase. kasi pag nag=grade ang mga guro, talagang pati personal comments sa progress ng estudyante kasali.

    sa ratio ng 50:1 sa umaga at 50:1 sa hapon, paano mamemorya ng teacher ang pangalan ng mga bata, at lalo na ang progress nila sa pag-aaral?

    natawa ako nung binuksan ko home page ng isang maka-gma na diyaryo, andun, isang teacher na nakaretrato, nagwawalis ng sahig ng classroom….nakapilantik pa ang kaliwang daliri! ha! pictorial galore. pero sa pagturo, ano naman kaya?

    nakakasuka na ang ginagawa ng mga ito. paano kaya mahinto?

  3. ystakei ystakei

    I feel sorry for Filipino children who are one of the most deprived children in the world. This I did not know of course until I came to the US, UK or even Japan where education is at the reach of anyone willing to be taught and learn.

    Now, you have a president who sardines these children in already crowded schoolrooms and say that there is no classroom shortage, and the liar that she is, she wants her members of her cabinet to lie with her if they want to keep their positions! What a crap! :-

  4. ystakei ystakei

    Oops, the last part was removed:

    I dare people there of position to check on the contribution of the OFWs to the “Gloria’s classroom.” Yes siree, the OFWs in Japan, for instance, has given over 6M yen (approx. 111 yen/$1) for this project according to a reliable source, but where are the monies for such now?

    I have not given to this “Gloria’s classroom” because I don’t trust the recipient of this gimmick who is no other than Mrs. Pidal. I’d rather give straight to PREDA, the charity run by Fr. Shen for the streetchildren, than to any such bogus charity in the Philippines.

    And the Midget says that the Philippines is better now than before? I have not seen so many charities being begged for alms now than ever before in the Philippines. Is that what progress is all about in the Enchanted Kingdom of the Reyna Sinungaling?

  5. Emilio_OFW Emilio_OFW

    The Youth – will not and never be the hope of the fatherland as long as Nano is Malacanang. How can a classroom be the source of learning for these very young children if the atmosphere is not condusive – sardined classrooms! She’s manipulating the real condition of the classroom requirements of the students as being pointed out by Dr. Fe Hidalgo in her preliminary report in Malacanang cabinet meeting.

    Now it can be said that she’s bragging her being a Doctor of Economics – DOCTORING FIGURES – she’s really good at that!

  6. jinxies6719 jinxies6719

    02 June 2006

    Ms. Ellen,

    Off-Topic kung pwede po.

    In the plunder trial of erap, the administration of gloria rebutted his claim of the conspiracy by then VP gloria, businessmen, the AFP, etcetc., ets.,…. according to ermita and the other clowns, there’s no such a thing the conspiracy by then vp gloria to unseat erap. my question right now is, how about those written in the newspapers, photos of gloria with the now batasan 5 with the background “oust erap” what do they call that??? now if an individual or a group of individuals seen or heard against gloria, they would be branded “destabilizers” and “rebels” (the famous and likable words by INjustice sec gonzales).

    Additionally, if they think, gloria won the election, why not call for snap election??? pitting gloria against erap against FVR and other wannabes. In the political chaos that is happening in the country today, The only solution is a SNAP ELECTION.

    In connection with the shortage of classrooms, why not ask each and every TONGressman and senaTONG to donate their pork, if not part of their pork to build classrooms and to hire more teachers, instead of putting too much money in the street, why not put them in building classrooms.

    jinx

  7. Emilio_OFW Emilio_OFW

    Jinx – it seems that Binggot Defensor is reading the comments of user’s in Ms. Ellen’s blogsite. Two after your post, ANC (news channel of ABS-CBN Global) started airing the news of Binggot’s appeal to Congressmen and Senators to apportioned their pork barrel for the classroom requirement of public schools.

    Nano’s administration was on DENIAL (they have this habit) about the shortage of classrooms but when the former Undersecretary Of Education Miguel Luz announced and confirmed shortage, Binggot has to cover Nano’s ass and indeed there is a problem of funding.

    Binggot Defensor, the Philippines’ Josef Goebbel, will lie again to teeth that he mentioned about the problem of funding ! You wait and see.

  8. Jinx,

    I re-posted Nick Joaquin’s interview with Mike Arroyo on my blog site. Anna posted this a few months back on her site. I also commented on Kara David’s report of Bagong Tanyag Elementary School which bagged the highest ratio of students per class, 1:800.

    In a recent comment in PCIJ, I asked if anyone can show me how the 1:50 GMA formula can be applied to Bagong Tanyag.
    Tongue, a regular commenter had this to say,

    “Schumey, I doubt it’s possible to get a 1:800 ratio… UNLESS …you have 4 shifts of 4 hours each, for a class size of 200 each in the same classroom. That means classes start at 6AM for the first shift and ends at 10PM for the 4th shift.
    I can’t imagine how you can pack together 200 students in one regular sized room. I can’t also imagine every teacher in Bagong Tanyag attending to 800 students for 16 hours everyday, that’s brutal, isn’t it?
    Now your question of how to bring it down to the 1:50 ratio, diivide 800 by 50 = 16. That means that for every classroom now in that school 16 more have to be built PLUS allowance for population growth. The primetime news said that Bagong Tanyag Elem School has only “over 20 classrooms” and most classrooms have cracks and that the rain falls on students inside the rooms. (A classroom-to-pupil ratio of 1:800 and a classroom count of 20 makes 16,000 total student population for a small public school, and thus, to me, is unbelievable for now.)
    A minimum of 320 classrooms to a maximum 494 have to be built.”

    This only shows how bad our public education system really is. I do not know how Princess Laila can come up with such numbers. In the end, the children are the victims just so GMA can “look good”.

  9. Emilio_OFW Emilio_OFW

    Oops – it should be:

    Two hours after your post, ANC (news channel of ABS-CBN Global) started airing the news of Binggot’s appeal to Congressmen and Senators to apportioned their pork barrel for the classroom requirement of public schools.

  10. Ellen,

    ONE classroom for 100 students? or 50 students per shift? Jeez! 50 pupils in one class for a 4-hour learning period in the day? That’s a joke! (I didn’t realize this until the Hidalgo fiasco.)

    Ugh! That is absolutely killing not only for teachers but also for the pupîls/students!

    How can you dispense quality education with that kind of ratio? No matter how good a teacher is, he/she cannot impart learning efficiently because learning is not merely memorization – analysis, deduction, etc should be an integral part of education. How can you train 50 pupils (half of whom are hungry I suppose) to do that in 4 hours during the day?

    I thought school kids should go to school at least till mid-afternoon! What do they do the rest of the time? Watch TV? Ugh!

    What can 50 pupils learn in a half (morning or afternoon) learning session? Very little and only those who have the determination to learn will do it. The rest will be wailaid and so the vicious cycle goes on and on with a negative impact on society overall.

    Moreover, there’s what… 10 or 11 years of a combined primary and secondary education ONLY? Gosh, it’s worse than what I thought.

    In effect, because of the crowded classes couple with only 10 years of total primary & secondary education, in reality our children in the Philippines avail ONLY of a total of 5 years learning before they go to university! There can be NO quality education given that kind of learning system.

    Ellen, now I understand why college graduates I meet here have a bit of a problem – they are not at par with the rest of the world. They can barely atirculate their thoughts verbally let alone write them! This is disastrous.

    In Europe, the combined primary and secondary education in public AND private schools is a total of 13 years (thus most of the kids get into university at 18 or 19 years of age.) Moreover, pupils attend classes from 8 AM to 3:30 or till 4 PM daily and average size of classes in France or in Belgium is 23 students. Parents and teachers will bring down a government that tries to cram more pupils than that, believe me – I was an elected representative of a parents’ union in France and know whereof I speak.

    The class size of the school where my kids go today is only 19 or 20 pupils at most and classes are from 8 AM to 4 PM with a total of 80 minutes of break. School is for learning – it is not a day care center!

  11. ystakei ystakei

    Emilio:

    I cannot understand the hocus-pocus figuring of the Nano. And would the Binggot beg for funds for building schoolrooms now at the start of classes when they had April and May to do that? Also, what happened to the Budget for education that the Binggot would not even have to beg the Senators and Tongressmen to apportion their porks! Sorry for the bad mouthing but this is Numero Unong katarantaduhan!

    Where I come from, education has one of the biggest allocation of funds, because a nation of illiterates can never go anywhere except perhaps the Enchanted Kingdom like the one where Pinocchio and his friends were taken and they turned into asses or donkeys! And no one like the Midget in the Philippines can take credit for something that people running the government are expected to provide in services to taxpayers who pay for their meals.

    Until the Filipinos learn this basic principle that those who work in the government and elected to position in the government are their public servants, not their bosses. Kaya itong si Unano dapat talaga tanggalin na dahil hindi niya alam na hindi siya prinsesa kundi “public servant” kung gusto talaga niyang mag-squatter sa Malacanang! Ang sarap kutusan ang mga ungas, ano? Dito sa Japan hindi makahirit ang mga iyan especially because everybody here knows that government officials are public servants!!!

    Si Senator Pimentel alam iyan. Alam niyang public servant siya habang naninilbihan siya sa Senado. Kaya iyan ang favorite kong opisyal sa gobyerno kahit na nagkamali siyang sumali sa EDSA 2!

  12. ystakei ystakei

    Anna:

    Over here schools are closing because there are no more students. That is why there are a lots of incentives now being given for Japanese to get married sooner and have children complete with money bonuses from the government. It’s the curse of the population control practiced here some years back.

    My son’s school is closing next year because there are not enough students. The average no. of registration per school is about 20 to 30, not thousands as in the Philippines. Education is compulsory up to 9th grade. Before that there is also the pre-school which is recommended and optional. We pay a minimal fee for food, but everything is free in public school. Indigent families can avail of welfare so there is no excuse for parents not to send their children to school. Sa Philippines wala iyan. Kaya dito walang hapon na illiterate!!!

    Another sorry state of education in the Philippines is that teachers are being encouraged to work overseas as domestic helpers. Tapos magmamalaki pa si Nano! Pwe!

  13. ystakei ystakei

    Ellen:

    I translated your article above into Japanese and emailed it to some of my Japanese friends. They were flabbergasted. Napanganga sila sa definition ni Pandak ng “unemployed” as “adults population looking for a job.” Medyo kulang so I added “but cannot find one unless they allow themselves to be lured by recruiters with government connections like those moonlighting staff of DoLe to work overseas and be counted with the OFWs!”

    I also translated “Those who are jobless but not looking for a job, for one reason or another, are not considered unemployed. Thus, her statistics show a reduction in the number of unemployed Filipinos.” into Japanese. Napatanga ang mga kaibigan kong hapon who have never been out of job unless they prefer to be one. Hindi ko sinabi kung sino ang nag-define niyan. Tanong nila sino daw na sin verguenza ang gumawa niyan!

  14. Yuko,

    The reason why Gloria Mandaraya y taray enkantada couldn’t look into the classroom shortage before the school season opens is simple:

    Firstly, her reaction to everything that concerns the nation’s more needy population is absolutely knee-jerk; she has no vision, no plans, no concrete ideas as to how to approach the Philippine problems – absolutely appaling! (And to think that half of the people who serve and lick her ass accept this method of work!) There’s no intelligence involved there!

    I will accept that she’s one smart alec but one doesn’t need serious intelligence to be a smart-alec. This woman is seriously flawed – why the likes of people who hae had serious education cannot see that and continue to flatter her is beyond me. Why can’t they just accept that this woman is NOT intelligent at all – she’s a power grabber and a smart alec that’s all.

    Second, she is more concerned with her personal image and re-hashing her image instead of re-hashing the nation’s image.

    Third, she has no moral values and connot see beyond the tip of her nose – she is busier fending offs critics, killing opponents showing off than anything!

    It is well and good to call yourself president, chief executive, national leader or whatever but that is all words, labels, tags and are not worth the paper they are written on particularly, when the person who uses these labels and tags illegitimately and wantonly grabbed power.

    If for the sake of argument, a president is not highly intelligent but has the genuine concern and the absolute good morals to make things work, things will be fine.

    But Gloria does not possess any of those traits. Moreover, she pretends, she’s arrogant, boastful but there is not one iota of truth in what she projects. Absolutely immoral.

  15. Anna,
    Day care centers are better off. With GMA’s formula, the schools won’t even pass day care standards. How can a mother forget her basic obligation to her children? This only shows what kind of mother really is. Do not expect her to instill good morals and principle to her kids. I always tell my kids that I, being their father has an obligation to them and not the other way around. What is happening now is GMA wants to show the world she is immaculate while the entire country suffers.

  16. The gall of Bingot asking for funding from the congress, why not get the funding from the Presidential Social Fund instead? Bingot has been getting richer with his First Quadrant, why not ask your company to donate school buildings? Set an example Bingot or are you so afraid of parting with your wealth?

  17. vic vic

    Whatever magic formula the Pres. uses, there is no denial that there is high unemployment, and even those employed are still underemployed. If you count those employed, but still not making enough for a decent living, then it compound the “unemployment picture”. The only formula that will work is an economic policy that will create decent paying jobs for decent number of working class..

  18. Emilio_OFW Emilio_OFW

    Anna – Bingot is Mike Defensor. Look at him and it “looks” like he undergone a harelip operation.

  19. Thanks Emilio.

    Btw, Ellen, off topic but everybody is concerned with the rampant, unsolved killings in the Philippines. Begging to disgress but I believe the families of the victims should bring the case to the European Court. – Thanks!

    France convicted by European Court for violating Right to Life

    Le Figaro reported on June 1, 2006 that France was convicted last Thursday by the European Court over the death of Pascal Tais, a French-Moroccan who was found dead in his prison cell in Arcachon in the south of France.

    The European Court convicted France for violating of Article 2 (Right to Life) of the European Convention of Human Rights.

    Tais, 33 was found dead in his cell in 1993 following his arrest for being drunk. The police who arrested him admitted that they had slapped Tais, hit him on the hands, legs and on his thorax with a police truncheon on the excuse that the French-Moroccan was resisting arrest. Tais was found dead the next day covered in blood and in his excrement.

    According to Le Figaro, France was convicted over the death of the French-Moroccan in violation of his “right to life” as well as for the absence of efficent inquiry which should have led to determining the circumstances surrounding Tais’ death.

    My personal comment: This goes to show that the in a union of states where democracy is upheld, no power, no government, no military might is feared when it comes to the violation of the right to life – one’s inalienable human right.

    It is likely that French government will made to pay a heavy fine to the family of the victim and will be required by the European Court to punish the culprits involved in the death of Fascal Tais.

    This was not the first time when the Europeans acted in unison to punish violators and not the first time when even a government, a nation as powerful as France is not spared from criminal conviction.

    This is how it should be!

  20. Yuko, i can understand the consternation of your friends over Arroyo’s definition of unemployed.

    Who dies she think she is fooling?

    Anna, can we bring arroyo to a european court? Maybe the U.N.

  21. E-mail from marcelino francisco:
    Ellen,

    Pakicheck mo kung ilan ang estudyante sa bawat classroom sa Maysan High School dito sa Valenzuela City at 2 shifts pa, kaya walang natutuhan ang mga estudyante at malilit pa ang kwarto para sa 8o estudyante bawat room.

    Ang mga anak ko walang natutuhan diyan pagkatapos ng HS, mahina nagiging foundation, ni bumasa ng derecho di kaya, bakit ipinapasa?kasi di alam ng teacher, dahilan sa karamihan nila sa classroom.Pakiimbistigahan lang….please kawawa mga bata na nagaaral at nagtatapos dito.

    Maraming salamat,

    Grupo ng residente ng Valenzuela.City.

  22. E-mail from gary esperida:

    paano po ba nalaman ni gloria ang ratio na 1:100 na estudyante sa loob ng silid aralan?isang idikasyon na wala talaga silang alam sa tunay na kalagayan ng kakulangan ng silid aralan.bakit hindi nya subukan bisitahin ang mga pampublikong paaralan ngayong pasukan at makita nya talaga ang tunay na datos sa kakulangan ng silid?

    tama po kayo na hindi pareho ang oras ng pasok ng mga estudyante,dito po sa amin maghapon ang pasok ng mga anak ko sa elementarya..kaya hidalgo at gloria, magpakatotoo at gumising kayo sa katotohanan.

  23. The two-shift system is not conducive to learning because it means classes would have to be held six hours straight. No recess.

    We all know that our concentration starts to slow down after, at most two hours. Recess is not only to give chance for the students to take their snacks but also to recharge, and refresh. Also to interact with fellow students.

    It’s unhealthy, mentally and physically. And that’s what gloria arroyo wants to institutionalize just so she can brag she has solved the problem of classroom shortage!

  24. Ellen,

    At first glance, I don’t think the families of the victims/political killings in the Philippines can bring Gloria and her government to the European Court for violating their kins’ right to life.

    On the face of the initial documents which we can access on Google, http://www.echr.coe.int/ECHR/EN/Header/Applicants/Information+for+applicants/Frequently+asked+questions/
    only those states who are signatory to the Convention of Human Rights may be sued in the European Court.

    What we have to find out is if the Philippines is a signatory to another treaty which links the EU to the Philippines or to another international treaty, i.e., International Criminal Court which is also in the Hague.

    I am not a lawyer and therefore cannot see through the intricate legalese of both courts here – how the Philippines could be linked, directly or indirectly through the treatises it signed with Europe.

    Granted that this is all possible – that the Philippine government may be tried in any of these courts, I believe there is still a caveat, that the families of the victims should have exhausted all venues in their own territory or in the country where the killing or violation of Article 2 (Right to Life)before the courts here can hear the case.

    In any case, it will be good to first find out if the Philippines signed a treaty with EU which indirectly is covered by the Convention of Human Rights before anything else. If for the sake of argument, there is that possibility, a lawyer or a group of lawyers must make contact with free legal aid groups here to go further into the case. I personally will be willing to do the legwork over here to liaise for any Philippine group that needs someone to do the tedious work of liaising with human rights or free legal aid groups here.

  25. What rights are protected by the Convention and its Protocols?

    The following rights, in particular, are protected :

    the right to life;
    the right to a fair hearing in civil and criminal matters;
    the right to respect for private and family life;
    freedom of expression;
    freedom of thought, conscience and religion;
    the right to an effective remedy;
    the right to the peaceful enjoyment of possessions;
    and the right to vote and to stand for election

    What do the Convention and its Protocols prohibit?

    The following, in particular, are prohibited :

    torture and inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment;
    arbitrary and unlawful detention;
    discrimination in the enjoyment of the rights and freedoms set out in the Convention;
    the expulsion by a State of its own nationals or its refusing them entry;
    the death penalty;
    and the collective expulsion of aliens.

  26. Emilio_OFW Emilio_OFW

    Gary Esperida,

    There is no doubt Dr. Fe Hidalgo is true to herself when she started reporting about the “CLASSROOMS SHORTAGE” during the Nano’s cabinet meeting. BUT – Nano does not want to hear this because all she wanted to hear are the “ACCOMPLISHENTS” on her programs.

    Dr. Fe Hidalgo does not have the spine and stick to her words and statements because later in the afternoon of that cabinet meeting, she did a 360 degrees turn around on her report – that there is no more classrooms shortage! IF THAT WILL COST HER EDUCATION SECRETARY POSITION, THEN LET IT BE – I WILL SALUTE HER but she chooses otherwise which the Nano told her and want her to say!

    So, Gary – it is all Nano’s fault!

  27. Ellen,

    An initial reading of the UN International Criminal Tribunal, seems to me that filing a case against one’s government for arbitrary violation of his/her right must be done in a group. In other words, it looks like there must appear a systemic violation of rights against a segment of the population.

    There have been what we term more or less 500 or so “political’ killings unsolved by the State these last few years which was further worsened by suspicions that the State is party to the killings. Perhaps, a bona fide human rights watchdog should submit a complaint on behalf of the victims families altogether to validate the complaint.

    On the face of my initial reading, individual plaintiffs don’t stand a chance with the Intl Tribunal.

    Perhaps one of the commenters, Bystander who is a lawyer could acquaint us further about this.

  28. Unfotunately, the CHR has no prosecutional powers. Its can only investigate and recommend. And even if the CHR has recommended filing of charges, the PNP or the AFP has done nothing. Let’s take the example of the youths who were shot to death in Pasig. Despite the CHR’s recommendations, administrative nor criminal cases have been filed by the PNP Command. The officials even refused to suspend them. Inspite of KARAPATAN’s reports, the AFP nor PNP has lifted a finger. This even if witnesses have specifically pointed and identified tthe military personnel involved. TF Usig is just another lip service by the administration so the aggrieved and the international community will say the government is doing something to resolve this cases. Impunity is the word best to describe the situation.

    Another classic example is the real shortage of classrooms. Packing 80 kids into one room is torture. Isn’t child abuse? Just imagine the hardship the children must face for 10 months. And for what, so the administration can say that they are giving these kids a future? Education is a right given to every child, forcing them into a small classroom isn’t giving them education. Our public schools become diploma mills. In the end, high school students couldn’t even read English much less speak the language.

    This is the reality that the administration has failed miserably in upholding the basic human rights every citizen should enjoy.

  29. magdalo_you magdalo_you

    Good day Ellen,

    Isa na namang pagbatikos ang natangap ng arroyo administration, dahil lang sa kanyang pagsisikap na iangat ang antas ng edukasyon, ito ay hindi upang magsinungaling sa taong bayan, nagnagluklok sa kanya sa pinkamataas na pwesto sa gobyerno, nakakalungkot isipin na ganito pa ang matatanggap ng mga tao na nagsisikap maiangat ang ating pamumuhay, maswerte kayo at mahaba ng pasensya ng ating pangulo, kung sa akin lang sana na sabila ng aking pagsisikap ay puro batikos ang aking matatanggap isa sa mga bumabatikos sa akin ang aking kukuhanin upang pumalit sa aking pwesto tingnan ko lang kung hindi ka putaktihin ng mga tao na ayaw sayo, hindi ko alam kung anong ang kasiyahan ng mga taong ito, wag namng sanang maging biktima ang inyong mga anak o dikaya kamg anak o di kaya ang inyong sarili ng isang madugong karahasan, na ibubunga ng inyong mga isinusulat na ang magiging konklusyon sa ating bayan ay maghimagsik at magalab ang dugo at humantong sa isang civil war ang ating bansa, sana mangyari nga ang ganito para ang mga katulad nyo na gusto ng isang magulong bansa ang unang maging biktima ng karahasan, tingnan ko lang kung makapagsulat pa kayo ng mga pagbatikos kung ang inyong bangkay ay pinaglalamayan na sa gitna ng kaguluhan na kayo ang dahilan, isipin sana nyo ang kakhahantungan ng inyong mga ginagawa, dahil sa huli ay kayo rin ang magsisi, nganit alam ko naman na kahit ano pa ang sabihin ko ay sarado na ang inyong mga pag iisip, tama kayo wala na talaga tayong pag asa, iyan ay hindi dahil sa mga namumuno o sa sistema ng gobyerno yan ay dahil sa mga taong katulad nyo na walang kasiyahan, maihahalintulad kayo sa isang talangka na ang gustong umahon ay hihilahin pababa, mga buo na ang aking paniniwala wala na po tayong pag asa. tsk! tsk! tsk!

  30. magdalo_you magdalo_you

    Ellen,

    Ang nangyari kay Fe hidalgo ay isa lamang maliit na diskusyon na pinalaki ng media, natatawa na lang ako sa mga binabasa ko minsan, Only in the philippines ha ha ha ha!!!!

  31. Magdal-you,

    Siyempre, maliit at punggok naman si Gloria Mandaraya, kaya maliit din ang diskusyon niya. Wala kang mapapala sa isang taong pareho ng presidente mong bulilit at punggok pa – maliit ang utak, makitid ang isip at punggok pa ang diskusyon – maliit na maliit lang ang puwede mong hintayin galing sa kanya.

    Swerte ka pa nga at maski maliit ang utak mo, kinakausap ka pa ng mga tao dito.

  32. pandawan pandawan

    Magdalo_you, Nakakatamad basahin ang mga post na walang porma kahit ito ay isinulat sa Filipino. Dapat hindi isang kilometro na walang tuldok at walang parapo.

    Pero kung nang-aasar ka lamang o nagkukunwaring masa ay lalo ka lamang lumalabas na katawa-tawa. Bato-bato sa langit ang tamaan ay hindi na baleng magalit.

    Pakiusap po ke Emilio, huwag nating husgahang walang “spine” si Fe Hidalgo. Sapat nang sa harap ng cabinet meeting ni Arroyo at ng madla ay buong tapang niyang pinasimulan ang kaniyang report na mayroon tayong CLASSROOM SHORTAGE! Dinumog siya ni Arroyo at ng mga alipores nito sa pangunguna ni Bingot Defensor. Pero kung susuriin mo ang sinabi niya sa press conference na ipinatawag ni Bingot, hindi niya sinabing binabawi niya ang binitiwan niyang mga salita. ANG NABITIWAN AY NABITIWAN NA. Her words have done its damage. Kaya mo ‘yun?

  33. vonjovi1 vonjovi1

    IYAN ANG ISANG HALIMBAWA NA LUMALABAS NA PURO TANGA AT INUTIL ANG NANINIWALA KAY REYNANG MAGNANAKAW KATULAD NI MAGDALO_YOU.
    KAYA MGA KABABAYANA KO ……

    Pag Pasensiyaan na ninyo si MAGDALO_YOU alam naman ninyo na LAHAT ng naniniwala kay Reynang Enkatarantada ay nagiging “BOPOL”. Kaya kung ano ano na lang ang lumalabas sa kanilang mga mabahong bunganga at hindi alam kung ano ang pinag sasabi.
    KAYA PAG PASENSIYAAN NA NINYO SI MAGDALO_YOU. TANGA at GAGO LANG IYAN (HE,HE) HUWAG KANG MAGAGALIT DAHIL TOTOO NAMAN DIBA..
    BATUKAN MO ANG SARILI MO BAKA MAGISING KAPA :)…. MEDYO LAKASAN MO AT DAMIHAN MO ANG BATOK DAHIL KATULAD KA NG IDOL MO NA MAKAPAL NA ANG PAG MUMUKHA AT MANHID NA.

    HE, HE, Sorry MAGDALO_YOU at inu ulit ko batukan mo ang sarili mo para magising ka.

  34. lcbocalan lcbocalan

    Hindi kaya alam ni Gloria kung gaanong katagal mag rolkol ng 50 istudiyante.Siguro bago matapos tawagin ng guro ang mga pangalan ng 50 istudiyante eh ubos na ang oras niya ano pa ang ituturo ng guro di wala na o di kaya naman isa ito sa plano nanaman niya na gawaing mang mang at hindi marunong bumilang ang mga estudiyante para kung tumakbo man
    pagnulo ang anak niya madali nanaman silang mandadaya dahil hindi marunong bumilang ang mga tao.

  35. lca lca

    maganda ang panimulang salita ni Magdalo_you. (Isa na namang pagbatikos ang natangap ng arroyo administration, dahil lang sa kanyang pagsisikap na iangat ang antas ng edukasyon,) pero ung mga sumunod na sinabi mo ay hndi na kapanipaniwala. alam mo na hindi talaga si Gloria ang hinalal ng taong bayan” at narinig mo rin siguro ang sinabi ni Fe Hidalgo sa kanyang report. siguro ang mga anak mo at mga anak ng mga kamag anak mo ay nag aaral sa mga private school” bumisita ka sa mga pam-publikong paaralan sa Lunes June 5′ para nman makita mo kung tama ang sinasabi ng ipinag tatanggol mo” O ung sinabi ni Fe Hidalgo na may kakulangan talaga. e iyang drama mo nabili na iyan’ maganda pa mag komedi ka nlang” kasing lumalabas na pang kenkoy ang isinulat mo e’tama ung sinabi ni vonjovi 1′ batukan mo ang sarili mo ng maraming’maraming beses’ para magising ka at matauhan’ baka akala mo e nasa Enchanted kingdom ka na” e gising na’ panaginip lang iyan’kawawa ka naman’ nadala ka ng magic ni gloria tsk tsk tsk…

  36. nelbar nelbar

    isa sa mga magic formula ni pandakekok ay ang magbigay ng libreng 1 kilo bigas sa grade 1 at grade 2.
    malaking tulong ito sa mga pamilyang nangangailangan diba?

  37. magdalo_you magdalo_you

    Good Day Ellen

    Relax lang mga kaibigan, watch your mouth, don’t say bad words, nagpapakita lang na kayo ang walang pinag aralan, akala ko ba mararangal kayo na tao.

    pero okay lang di naman sa akin mag reflect yung mga sinasabi nyo kung hindi sa inyo lang salamat mabuhay po si pangulong Arroyo the greatest leader of philippine history.

  38. vonjovi1 vonjovi1

    MAGDALO_YOU TALAGA YATANG NAWAWALA KA NA SA SARILI MO AT SINO ANG UNANG NAGSULAT NA BATUKAN DITO. DIBA SINULAT MO IYAN SA ISANG KULOM. PINAPALIWANAG LANG NAMIN NA BAGO KA MAG SULAT AY HUMARAP KA SA SALAMIN KUNG ANG PINAG SASABI MO AY MAY KATUTURAN AT KUNG MAY MAIDUDULOT NA ARAL. KASO WALA EH, GANOON KA RIN SA MGA ALALAY NI REYNANG ENKATARANTADA EH NA PURO KASINUNGALINGAN ANG LUMALABAS SA BIBIG.

    ALAM MO NAMAN LAHAT NG PUMAPANIG SA REYNANG MAGNANAKAW AY NAGIGING “BOPOL” AT TANGA KAHIT NA ANG PINAG ARALAN NILA AY MATAAS.

    HINDI SA AMIN NARE REFLECT ANG MGA SINASABI NAMIN TUNGKOL SA IYO DAHIL ALAM NAMIN NA GAGO KA AT TANGA. ALAM NAMIN ANG IBIG SABIHIN NG “TAMA AT MALI”. IKAW KAYA, ALAM MO BA. SABAGAY TUTULUNGAN MO ANG KAPWA MAGNANAKAW MO KAHIT ANO PA ANG GAGAWIN NIYA DAHIL BURADO NA ANG MGA UTAK NINYO.

    INU ULIT KO NA KUNG HINDI MO PA NABABATUKAN ANG SARILI MO AY GAWIN MO NA PARA MAGISING KA (LAKASAN MO AH DAHIL MAKAPAL NA ANG PAG MUMUKHA MO EH):) 🙂 🙂 SABAGAY IYAN ANG UNANG SINABI MO (BATUKAN) SA ISANG BUMATIKOS SA SINABI OR SINYLAT MO DITO. ALAM KO NA HUMAWAK KA NG MARTILYO OR MASO AT BAKA MAGISING KA KAPAG HINAMPAS MO SA ULO MO 🙂 🙂 .

    SORRY SINASABI KO LANG ANG KATOTOHANAN MAGDALO_YOU… GINAMIT MO PA ANG MAGDALO AT YOU NA ITONG GRUPO NG YOUNG OFFICER NA AYAW SA MGA MAGNANAKAW. DAPAT ANG GINAMIT MO AY GERM_NERALS DAHIL ITO ANG BAGAY SA NICKNAME MO NA PURO GENERAL NA MAGNANAKAW.

    HAMPAS MUNA PARA MAGISING KA.. 🙂 🙂

    SA IYO BUMABALIK ANG MGA SINASABI MO DAHIL PINAPALIWANAG NAMIN. SANA SA SUSUNOD NA SULAT MO AY MAY KATUTURAN KAHIT NA MAPA ARROVO.

    ANO BA ANG NAGAWA NG IDOL MO DAPAT IPAGMALAKI NAMIN… ??????????????? IYUNG PAGNANAKAW , TUMAWAG KAY GARCI , FERTILIZER FUNDS AT MANDAYA ETC. ITO BA ANG DAPAT IPAGMALAKI MO.

  39. PAHAYAG NG PAGKAKAISA
    NG MGA PAMPUBLIKONG GURO SA KALAKHANG MAYNILA

    Kami ang mga guro sa pampublikong paaralan ng Kalakhang Maynila ay naniniwalang ang pagtuturo ay isang marangal at dakilang propesyon;

    Kami ay naniniwalang malaki ang kinalaman ng edukasyon sa pagsulong at pag-unlad ng buong bansa;

    Kami ay naniniwalang nasa sa kamay ng mga guro ang paghubog sa kinabukasan ng bawat mamamayan at sa gayo’y sa hinaharap ng bayan;

    Kami ay naniniwala na ang mga kinauukulan ay nagkaroon ng pagpapabaya sa edukasyon at nagresulta sa pagbagsak ng kalidad ng edukasyong pampubliko;

    Kami ay naniniwalang malaking salik ang kalalagayan ng mga guro sa sa paghahatid ng mahusay na edukasyon sa mga mamamayan at upang makamit ang mataas na kalidad ng edukasyon ay marapat lamang na bigyan ng malaking pagpapahalaga ang mga guro sa pampublikong paaralan;

    Kami ay naniniwalang dahilan sa pagpapabaya ng pamahalaan sa mga guro ay marami na sa amin ang demoralisado, nagdarahop sa pamumuhay at nababaon sa utang, at ang kalagayang ito ay nagtutulak sa kanila upang mawalan ng sigla sa pagtuturo, maghanap ng iba pang mapagkakakitaan, magwalang-bahala sa tungkulin o mangibang-bayan;

    Kami ay naniniwalang dahilan sa kalagayang ito ay unti-unti at patuloy nang nawawala ang dating kinang at kadakilaan ng pinili naming propesyon;

    PAHAYAG NG PAGKAKAISA
    NG MGA PAMPUBLIKONG GURO SA KALAKHANG MAYNILA

    Kami ay naniniwalang ang pagbibigay sa amin ng sapat na sahod, disenteng pamumuhay at karapatan at kagalingang sadyang dapat sa amin ang makapagpapanumbalik ng aming dignidad bilang mga guro;

    Kami ay naniniwala na ang karapatan, kabuhayan at kagalingang ito ay maipagtatagumpay lamang kung kami ay magkakaisa sa paglutas ng aming mga suliranin;

    Kung kaya ngayon, kami ay naninindigan upang ibalik ang dignidad ng aming propesyon sa pamamagitan ng pagtataguyod ng malawak na pagkakaisa ng kaguruan sa Kalakhang Maynila sa ilalim ng Teachers Dignity Coalition.

    Benjo Basas
    Baesa HS, Caloocan City

    Glenn Lloyd C. Ybañez
    Cuneta ES, pasay City

    Elizabeth Saldaña
    M.B. Asistio Sr. HS, Caloocan City

    Ramon Miranda
    Arellano HS,Manila

    Gerry A. Lumaban
    Parañaque ES-Central

    Maria Acejo-Caber
    J. Nolasco HS, Manila

    Jonathan S. Napay
    Kalayaan ES, Pasay City

    Elena F. Dilag
    Maysan NHS, Valenzuela City

    Leandro E. Espiritu, Jr.
    Neptali Gonzales NHS, Mandaluyong city

    Ma. Luisa V. Zabala
    San Juan NHS

    Melchor V. Cayabyab
    Araullo HS, Manila

    Analiza Navarra- Basas
    Bagong Bario NHS, Caloocan City

    Ildefonso Enguerra
    M.A. Roxas HS, Manila

    Ivee C. Perez
    Bagumbong HS, Caloocan City

    John M. Basco
    Bagong tanyag ES, Taguig

    Nerissa C. Pillone
    Bagong Barrio NHS, Caloocan City

    Emileto T. Betonio
    R.P. Cruz Sr ES, Taguig

    Placer D. Eduarte
    Kalayaan ES, Caloocan City

    Mario S. Jimenez
    Parañaque NHS

    Macario Ongayo
    San Juan NHS

    Jumel L. Reyes
    Gen. T. de Leon, NHS, Valenzuela

    John A, Gayola
    Tinajeros NHS, Malabon

    Marcial Mark C. Sison
    Silangan ES, taguig city

    Eva V. Feria
    Torres HS, Manila

    Nancy de Leon
    Pedro P. Cruz ES. Mandaluyong

    Gil M. Cabrito
    Maysan NHS, Valenzuela City

  40. Statement of the Teachers Dignity Coalition:

    We wouldn’t be surprised if we learn that DepEd OIC Fe Hidalgo resign her post. We believe it’s the most dignified thing for her to do. To stick with your boss who doubts you so much is foolish. And to do as you told even beyond truth is a sin.

    We give our sympathy to Ma’am Fe Hidalgo. She just did her job, fairly. But she was treated unfairly. To be reprimanded in front of a national TV is humiliating not only on the part of Hidalgo, but even on the president. How could we expect our pupils and students to be patient and respectful, if the president herself should be taught of these ethics? Ma’am Fe is a bonafide DepEd person being a classroom teacher herself before she rose into the ranks. And what the president did is not acceptable for us teachers. It’s very degrading.

    At the height of Hello Garci controversy, Sec. Butch Abad and Usec for legal Chito Gascon left the department and called for the president’s resignation. Two months ago Juan Miguel Luz, the then DepEd’s Usec for finance resigned with a very principled statement.

    This recent incident shows the patterned manner of people who choose to leave the president’s cabinet. It’s the best thing to do if you really are principled. Unfortunately, if Hidalgo quits, the people that would inherit the DepEd chair are again the politicians. That’s the usual thing with this administration. On the part of the president, this is her patterned manner to win political allies.

    This classroom shortage controversy is a very timely issue to be tackled. But it is just the tip of the iceberg. The crowded classroom could never be a proper place for learning and teaching. Make the classrooms conducive so the teachers could teach best. And on this foundation lies the decades-long program of meeting quality education.

    This is again an indication of neglect to public education sector which many of our committed and good teachers shed tears for. Should we describe this education condition in one word- it would be demoralizing. And if we were going to capsulate our demands again in one word- it would be dignity.

  41. I’m one with the Teachers Dignity Coalition. GMA should be blamed for the demoralization of the different institutions in the government.

    To everybody (espesially) magdalo_you,

    Instead of berating magdalo, we should understand him. He must be doing this for a (T)reason. Baka dito niya kinukuha ang pang-tustus sa kanyang pamilya. Sa hirap ng buhay ay kapit sa patalim na marahil si magdalo kaya niya ito ginagawa. Magiging masama tayo kung tatangalin natin sa kanya ang tangi niyang pinagkukunan ng ipakakain sa kanya mga anak. Hayan na nating gawin niya ang kanyang trabaho at baka mamatay ang pamilya niya ng dilat dahil sa gutom.

    Pasalamat tayo dahil may moralidad at prinsipyo tayo. Pasalamat tayo dahil alam natin ang tama at mali. Pasalamat tayo dahil galing sa marangal ang ibinubuhay natin sa ating mga pamilya. Kaya sana ay huwag nalang nating patulan ang mga kagaya niyang gagawin ang lahat para sa kakaunting barya. Hindi tayo mababawasan kung hahayaan na lamang natin siya, dahil alam nating lahat na tulad ng idolo niya, ay unti-unti nang nasusunog ang kanyang kaluluwa.

  42. ystakei ystakei

    What do you know? This Arroyo fan may even be the Midget herself trying to look goodie-goodie, but no dice, for a lot of us have seen through this ogre as nothing but ogre trying to look cutie-cutie!

    Anyway, my sympathy goes to teachers in the Philippines who are opting to be domestic helpers rather than burn their candles teaching students cramped up in crowded classrooms and learning nothing!!!

    One thing I find distasteful likewise in the Philippines is the sad state of public education there just because the President, et al would not dare send their children to public schools and rub shoulders with children of the less privileged class when in principle, public schools should be better off than private schools because they are supposed to have ever-ready public funding except that in the Philippines we know what happens to the money put in the national coffers—gone into some private fund especially after Jan. 2001!!!

  43. ystakei ystakei

    This brings me to paying taxes. It is no wonder that Filipinos would not volunteer to pay taxes because to be an honest taxpayer there does not really pay. Baka nakawin lang ng mga mandarambong sa pamahalaan ang pera mo, buti pa huwag na lang!

    I would have the same attitude if I were working and earning my living over there. And I don’t see any system as a matter of fact, and no benefit at all to all those who pay their taxes.

    Over here, I know where my taxes go and who benefit from my taxes—my fellow Japanese and myself. No one of those working in the government gets special privilege digging into the national chest and syphoning its contents to some private fund, and/or paying off those who can insure some cheater’s permanent stay at the palace by the murky river. No wonder Filipinos are not keen taxpayers!!!

  44. ystakei ystakei

    Ellen:

    What Romy Capulong, et al have done is set the trend of having the Midget tried in the International Court of Justice in the Hague the way Pinochet, et al were tried there and convicted.

    It would be better for concerned Filipinos to keep tag of this criminal tribunal and support it especially at a time as the present when there seems to be no competent court there with a Supreme Court and a Department of Justice dominated by political appointees of the criminal suspect over-squatting at the palace by the murky river because she thinks it’s hers to own.

    I met Judge Capulong in fact in a similar International Ciminal Tribunal for Iraq in Tokyo where he served as a prosecutor. So, he is one competent judge to initiate this kind of undertaking that will eventually lead to the prosecution of the cheat and swindler who is now blackmailing Senators and Congressmen not willing to be intimidated by her!!!

    He was in fact in Tokyo when he learned that some people were trying to abduct and “salvage” him following the massacre of protesters at the Hacienda Luisita a year ago.

  45. luzviminda luzviminda

    Magdalo_you,

    Hahaha! Yan ang napapala ng mga bayaran ni Arroyo na gustong ‘pumapel’ sa mga anti-Arroyo blogsites. Wala ka na talagang pag-asang magising pa sa katotohanan, dahil bukod sa makapal na ang mukha mo at nabubuhay bilang alagad sa Enchanted Kingdom…talaga lang ISA KANG DAKILANG ????? !!!!!!!! Hahahahahahahahahaha!!!!!

  46. ystakei ystakei

    Luzviminda:

    Today it is Magdalo_you. Yesterday, I understand it was something else. You bet, tomorrow or in the future it will be another name, hopefully, writing from some prison cell! 🙂

    But one thing sure is the Midget maintains an Internet Brigade posting even in anti-Corruption (I’d rather use this instead of the Anti-Arroyo nicker because the corruption dig of the Midget is really enormous that cover not just the Arroyo family but also the Macapagals, Macaraegs, etc. names she carries!) blogsites such as this.

    In May 2001, Coke gave Arroyo a check for some million pesos for Education. The money, however, did not go to the Department of Education then headed by Roco, who was having his own problems there with facilities of the department said to be invaded or run by his next of kins, and with poor health, he opted to quit early in his term, but then, of course, we knew that Roco was himself eyeing the presidency.

    Anyway, whatever happened to the donation of Coke to education then may even have been the reason for the kidnapping and murder of a Coke executive the same or following year. Unfortunately, the government had already set up the killers for hire who are answering for the said crimes to stop any further possible government connection to silence the tales about the missing Coke contribution to Philippine education as I don’t hear of anybody even trying to connect this with the establishment of a special communication center in Cebu which when launched had the presidential daughter as “Ninang” according to the grapevine!

    Ang tamad naman kasi ng mga pulis sa Pilipinas. Pambihirang makahuli ng talagang salarin kundi pa mambubugbog ng kung sino para mapaamin ng madalas hindi naman nila ginagawa! Bobo talaga! Iyong kasing mga marurunong, lumayas na ng Pilipinas!

  47. Statement from Teachers Dignity Coalition on school opening tomorrow:

    Some 2 million students are expected to troop the 700 public schools in Metro Manila tomorrow. Do the 47,000 metro teachers ready to classroom work again?

    “Since we chose to be teachers, we are always prepared to carry out our task of teaching our youth. But we challenge the government to do its task as well.” Benjo Basas, spokesperson of Teachers Dignity Coalition said.

    “Quality of education lies on the quantity of input. You can never expect for a good education output if you only spend a few penny for school buildings, facilities and of course teachers- hiring, training and a humane salary for them.” He explained.

    TDC believes taht the situation in classroom must be the greatest consideration. “What we saw in Malacañang last Tuesday is a blessing in disguise. It invited the attention of the mass media and the public on the poor condition of our public schools.” Basas added referring to the cabinet meeting where the president herself showed lost of temper over DepEd OIC Fe Hidalgo’s report on classroom shortage.

    “Aside from the shortage of classroom, we must also be aware of the great shortage on the number of teachers. In Metro Manila, for instance, last year’s teacher-student ratio is 1:39; such is still manageable according to DepEd. We may agree, if this ratio is manifested in the classrooms. But it is actually the ratio of the total number of teachers hired and the total number of students enrolled. In the end, 60 to 100 students will crowd in the tiny and under-ventilated classrooms.” He explained citing a data from the DepEd.

    Basas added that in the provinces, the case is so much worse. The multi-grade teaching is a usual practice in rural areas where classrooms and teachers are very slight. Multi-grade teaching according to him is very depriving, both for teachers and students. In this method, grade 1 and grade 2 pupils (and so on) are packed together in the same classroom with only one teacher.

    He said these matters contribute greatly to what they described as ‘dwindling honor and dying dignity’ of teaching profession. “The horrible situation only accelerates if we are going to talk about the teacher factor. Public school teachers in the Philippines, for so long have been demoralized due to decades-long neglect of the government. How could you expect someone to perform her duty best if she is not enjoying it? A happy teacher is a hard working teacher.” He concluded, pointing to teachers’ ‘starvation salary’ as the major culprit of their disilussionment.

    The group launched its campaign for the opening of this school year, the demand for Apat na Dapat Para sa Titser, immediate P3000 increase in salary, upgrading of teachers’ benchmark position from salary grade 10 to 19, repayment of their cost living allowance (COLA) and the full implementation of Magna Carta for Public School Teachers. These few concerns, according to them are but a part of an immense problem of public education system, but these four issues need an urgent solution.

    TDC is a newly established alliance of teachers present in 12 out of 14 school divisions in National Capital Region. Its main objective is to regain the honor of once dignified teaching profession.

  48. batong_buhay batong_buhay

    For once, sumang ayon ako kay magdalo_you nang sabihin niyang si pandak ang the “greatest” leader of philippine history. Siya ang da “greatest” pagdating sa pandaraya, pagnanakaw at pagsisinungaling!

  49. luzviminda luzviminda

    Yes Batong Buhay, si Gloria Arroyo ang GREATEST MISTAKE ng mga nag-upo sa kanya. Kaya ang Pilipinas ay dumadanas ng GREATEST MISERY!!!

  50. nelbar nelbar

    Ica:

    sabi mo – (alam mo na hindi talaga si Gloria ang hinalal ng taong bayan)
     

    ayan nga talaga ang problema sa bansa natin!
    alam naman nating lahat na mas marami ang mga naghihikahos sa buhay dito sa bansa natin, at ang mga naghihikahos na ito ang syang ayaw na kay gloria the pandakekok.bakit tinatangkilik pa rin ng mga mayayaman, makapangyarihan at mga elitista?
    Mahigit na sampung taon na ang nakakaraan, kinampihan ng mga mayayaman, makapangyarihan at mga elitista itong si Cory at Ramos. Kaya naman ng maupo itong si Erap at nagsama sama na naman sila, nagkampikampi upang ibagsak ang lehitimong gusto ng nakararami at taumbayan.
    Ganon din noong panahon ni Marcos, karamihan sa mga mayayaman ay kalaban nya!Kaya pinagkaisahan siya.
     
    Nagtataka ako kung bakit itong AFP ay sya dapat na magtanggol sa kagustuhan ng nakararami sa ating bansa?

    Kaya noong 2004 election ay isa na namang pang aalipusta sa kagustuhan ng nakararami sa atin bansa?
     
    Tanong ko:
     

    Meron ba talagang mga grupo sa Pilipinas na sya lang ang dapat na magdesisyon at masunod sa ngalan ng interes ng bansa at kinabukasan nito???

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