Statement of the Action and Solidarity for the Empowerment of Teachers (ASSERT) condemning the latest assault by elements of the Presidential Security Group, the Pasig police and the DepEd/ULTRA security personnel on Teachers’ right to free expression and peaceful assembly during last October5 celebration of “World Teachers’ Day” We, the 32,000- strong Action and Solidarity for the Empowerment of Teachers (ASSERT) strongly condemn the latest assault by uniformed and civilian elements of the Presidential Security Group, the Pasig police and the DepED/ULTRA security force on what otherwise was a peaceful and orderly demonstration of solidarity by its members during last October 5 celebration of “World Teachers ‘ day” at ULTRA, Pasig City. The unfortunate incident happened minutes after about ten (10) of our members from Pasay, Pateros, Quezon City and National Secretariat had positioned themselves on one side of the stadium allowing free ingress and egress and wearing ASSERT identification t-shirts to greet thousands of teacher delegates from the 3 regions of CALABARZON, Central Luzon and the National Capital Region with placards the size of a coupon bond. Their placards read: “Save Philippine Education, save the Filipino teachers, save our children’s future”, “Implement the Magna Carta Now”, Upgrade the Salary Grade of Teachers to Salary Grade 20”, “ 6- working hours for Teachers, Implement now”, “ Education Budget dagdagan”, “ Reform GSIS Now”, slogans too civil, so we think, to deserve the kind of treatment accorded so-called “enemies of the State” during the dark days of the ousted dictatorship. Wasting no time and without warning, uniformed policemen immediately cordoned off our members separating them into two groups and shut them off from public view as plainclothes security agents confiscated their placards. So, our teachers decided to distribute leaflets instead containing ASSERT’s commemorative statement for the significant event. The statement explained the reason why October 5 was designated as World Teachers Day i.e. to commemorate the signing by the Special Inter-governmental Conference in Paris of the UNESCO/ILO Recommendations Concerning the Status of Teachers in 1966. That many of the recommendations that were adopted in the Magna Carta of 1966 have not been implemented. That our teachers would like to address these concerns not only to Sec. Bro. Luistro but to all stakeholders in education in response to PNoy’s call for public-private partnership. The security personnel at the inner gates were not tolerant either. They inspected the bags of teachers for leaflets which they confiscated in earnest like what the dreaded MISG did to Mrs. Aquino and her children when making visits to Bicutan during early years of Martial law. Three of our teacher-leaders ( Carmelita Del Rosario, Romeo Masagca of Pateros, and Olivet Nepomuceno of Pasay were compelled to take off their T-shirts with “Stop Commodifying Education, Defend Free Public Education” printed on them before being allowed entry to the stadium to participate in the half-day commemorative program. One plastic bag of similar ASSERT T-shirts, tarpaulins and banners reserved for the afternoon’s “ Jog For Teachers’ Rights and Welfare” 4pm activity were also ordered deposited at the guard’s post by DepEd’s Chief of Communication and negotiator Mr. Kenneth Tirado who could not account for them later on when demanded by ASSET saying the PSG took them. If our security and education officials could not even respect rights so basic as freedom of expression and assembly that our fundamental law bestows upon our teachers as citizens of this republic, then how could we expect them to implement a special bill of rights like the Magna Carta that has been honored more in the breach than in compliance for the last 44 years since its enactment?
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Baguio 2010 Teachers’ Month Campaign and World Teachers Day: “My Teacher, My Hero” Brief History and Background The celebration of World Teachers’ Day started on October 5, 1994. Since then, this has been celebrated annually across the globe. This event took off from the UNESCO / ILO (International Labor Organization) “Recommendation concerning the Status of Teachers” adopted by the Intergovernmental Conference on October 5, 1966. This Recommendation, for the first time ever, gave teachers, throughout the world, an instrument that defined their responsibilities and asserted their rights. On October 5, 1994, UNESCO inaugurated World Teachers’ Day. World Teacher’s day aims to mobilize support for the teachers across the world and ensure that the needs of future generations are efficiently met by them. The day seeks to acknowledge the dedication and commitment of the teachers of the world towards their profession. Teachers’ Month Campaign in the Country Teachers’ Month Campaign in the country started in 2008 through the participation of key business, academic institutions and private organizations on education. The aim is to contribute to the development of the teaching profession in the country. The 2010 Teachers’ Month Campaign and the World Teachers Day are consistent with this objective. Baguio 2010 Teachers’ Month Campaign and World Teachers’ Day Concept, Objectives To celebrate the spirit of the World Teachers’ Day and consistent with the Deped Memorandum No. 352 s. 2010, Baguio City teachers through BCSTEA and in coordination with ASSERT will join the global commemoration of the Intergovernmental Conference Resolution in 1966. Baguio 2010 Teachers’ Month Campaign and World Teachers’ Day is a month-long celebration to honor and acknowledge the contributions of untiring teachers as they perform their strategic social roles in shaping Philippine society. Likewise, the Campaign would tackle current issues and concerns that are obstacles in the full development of the teaching profession, of teachers themselves, and of the society that they should help build. The Campaign would focus on building awareness among teachers and education workers about their rights as they enjoin schools and academic institutions, PTAs, student organizations and the rest of Baguio communities in making teachers’ rights a public concern. Target Activities and Schedules The one – month celebration would kick off on September 3 through a press conference of Baguio teacher – leaders. The press conference would announce the one-month campaign and the teacher – leaders’ commitment in improving the plight of teachers as a necessary step in positively contributing to the full development of society. The masses of teachers belonging to the rank and file would dramatize participation in the campaign by “wearing ribbons of teachers’ rights” as insured in the Magna Carta for teachers. This hopes to contribute in the teachers’ awareness of these rights and in demanding for its full implementation. After the kick – off, each faculty association is encouraged to come up with school level activity/ies celebration. There will also be streamer hanging in the schools. The streamers will contain the theme of the campaign and the main/major content of the Magna Carta. The culmination and highlight of the Campaign will be the World Teachers’ Day celebration on October 5. (Please choose from the list below for the culmination activity):
Machinery The whole Campaign will be supervised and spearheaded by BCSTEA in coordination with ASSERT. Assert could assist in the seminars/forums about the identified issues/topics. Faculty associations and other school level organizations would take care of school level activities. Prepared for BCSTEA Discussion August 28, 2010 / Assert ldg/gubz
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