On World Teachers’ Day, Marcos urges Filipinos to push for inclusive education

Metro Manila, Philippines — President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Saturday, Oct. 5, asked the public to champion inclusive education as the country celebrated the role of educators in influencing younger generations.

In his message to mark World Teachers’ Day, Marcos recognized teachers as those who stand as second parents to learners, and who impart the “values of excellence and hard work among our students and nurturing them to become the best versions of themselves.”

“They play an indispensable role in preserving our country’s democratic values and way of life not only as stewards during elections but also as influencers of the younger generations,” the president said.

“As we face the pressing challenges of our time, I ask everyone to channel our efforts towards advancing inclusive education that facilitates success for all learners and ushers in a better and brighter Bagong Pilipinas for us all,” he said.

Vice President Sara Duterte, who was the first education secretary of the Marcos administration, also honored the dedication and hardwork of teachers.

Duterte called on both public and private sectors to “[l]et every Filipino child reach their full potential.”

“Let us urge our government and private sector leaders and every Filipino from all walks of life to invest in education and join us in addressing learning poverty,” she said.

Meanwhile, groups such as the Teachers’ Dignity Coalition (TDC) and Alliance of Concerned Teachers (ACT) reiterated demands to increase the wages of educators.

“The salaries of teachers in our country are far too low compared to the demands of the job, the cost of living, and especially the value of our profession,” Benjo Basas of TDC said. “This is why almost every day, teachers are leaving for ‘greener pastures’ abroad to feel the value of their profession.”

ACT also called for a budget hike in the education sector and advocated to stop the attacks against teachers and schools.

For his part, Marcos cited the administration’s efforts to support teachers including skills enhancement and the Kabalikat sa Pagtuturo Act. The law primarily grants public school teachers additional teaching allowance, personal accident insurance, and special hardship allowances.

“So, as we lay down the groundwork for a more resilient sector, I enjoin DepEd (Department of Education) Secretary Sonny Angara, along with our government agencies, to continue improving the quality of education, uphold the rights of our teachers, and adapt to the ever-evolving needs of our [academic] landscape,” Marcos said at the 2024 National Teachers’ Day Celebration on Thursday.