Chairperson's Corner
Embedded Files
TDC STATEMENTS
ABOUT US
ABOUT US
We, the members of the Teachers’ Dignity Coalition (TDC), proudly trace our formal establishment back to April 8, 2006, at the Philippine Normal University (PNU). However, our roots go even deeper, beginning in Valenzuela City, Caloocan, Manila, and the Malabon-Navotas area, where young teachers from Metro Manila and nearby provinces first came together to form our coalition. What started as a localized initiative soon grew, and within a year, we had expanded nationwide, reaching areas beyond the National Capital Region (NCR), including Cavite, Rizal, and Bulacan. Thanks to the dedication and commitment of our fellow educators, TDC quickly gained recognition not only from our colleagues but also from the government, media, and other institutions.
From the beginning, TDC became a formidable force in advocating for the rights of teachers. We employed a combination of diplomatic and unconventional approaches, distinguishing ourselves from more traditional methods. Our early campaigns focused on the "Apat na Dapat Para kay Titser," which called for raising the benchmark position for teachers, ensuring the payment of the cost of living allowance (COLA), fully implementing the Magna Carta for Teachers, and challenging the unfair policies imposed by the Government Service Insurance System (GSIS).
We first made waves nationally in June 2006 when we stood in defense of then-Secretary Fe Hidalgo during the controversy over classroom shortages. This moment signaled the beginning of our rise as one of the leading organizations advocating for teachers in the Philippines. Since then, we have consistently engaged with various education stakeholders, both within and outside the education sector, and earned the trust of many. We’ve been invited to participate in countless seminars, forums, workshops, and conferences both locally and internationally, giving us a platform to amplify the voices of teachers.
Our influence has also reached the legislative arena, where our chairperson, Mr. Benjo Basas, often served as a resource person in both the Senate and the House of Representatives when bills concerning education were being deliberated. In recent years, we’ve made significant contributions to crafting major policies, such as the Teacher Education Council Roadmap and the Career Progression Policy under Executive Order 174. Additionally, we’ve been actively involved in reviewing and proposing amendments to the Magna Carta for Teachers, pushing for revisions to the K-12 curriculum, and enhancing the Child Protection Policy within the Department of Education (DepEd).
Through our persistent and reasoned advocacy, we’ve earned the respect and trust of the education community, solidifying our role as a leading voice for teachers in the Philippines. We continue to stand firm in our mission to protect and uplift the dignity of teachers across the nation.
VISION
VISION
A nation that places great value on the education of its people and recognizes the importance of teachers and the dignity of the teaching profession.
The Teachers’ Dignity Coalition (TDC) vows to protect and promote the well-being of its members; to improve the socio-economic welfare of teachers and education workers; to ensure the dignity of teaching profession; to advance the cause of genuine, comprehensive, and relevant educational reforms for a free, accessible and quality education for the people; and to secure a more just, equitable, and democratic Philippine society.
OUR 13-POINT AGENDA
OUR 13-POINT AGENDA
1. Upgrade the entry-level salaries of public school teachers to at least salary grade 15 by amending the existing salary laws or enact the long-demanded P10, 000 across-the-board increase;
2. Financially assist teachers and staff who have contracted Covid-19 since March 2020 --- especially the families of those who died of the disease;
3. Pay all government debts to teachers resulting from the non or limited implementation of the welfare provisions of the Magna Carta for Public School Teachers (RA 4670) such as the free medical check-up and hospitalization, compensation for injuries, overtime pay, paid study leave, special hardship allowance and step increment, among other benefits;
4. Ensure and expand the health benefits to teachers as mandated by existing laws and build a hospital for teachers and education sector workers;
5. Lower the class size to at least 25 students per classroom, ensure the 1:1 textbook to student ratio and the needed facilities in every classroom and provide all the schools with water, sanitation, and disinfection facilities;
6. Hire more teachers based on the needs, including those who will teach specialized subjects such as Special Education (SPED), kindergarten, and senior high school, and provide each school with a registered guidance counselor with attractive remuneration based on qualifications. Hire additional support staff/non-teaching personnel who will perform the clerical tasks in schools;
7. Ascertain that teachers focus on teaching, free them from ancillary tasks that reduce the quality of their service. Provide free laptops and internet connectivity to all teachers;
8. Restore and further strengthen the comprehensive study of Philippine History, Literature, and Culture at all levels and intensify the program for Peace and Human Rights Education as well as the Indigenous People’s Education in IP communities; 9. Amend the GSIS law and make a representation of classroom teachers integral to the GSIS Board, abolish unfair GSIS policies and further expand member benefits like the lowering of retirement age or altogether create a separate insurance system for teachers and staff of the public education sector;
10. Create a robust mechanism for full representation of rank-and-file employees in all policy-making bodies of DepEd including the Management Committee in the Central Office as well as in Boards and Committees related to teachers and the education sector;
11. Establish an honest-to-goodness, fair, and just merit and promotion system in government service, especially in DepEd that would include providing free post-graduate studies. Prioritize the seasoned teachers who serve in remote areas in promotions. Replace the complex and cumbersome Results-Based Performance Management System (RPMS) and restore the simple Performance Appraisal System for Teachers (PAST);
12. Ensure the security of tenure of teachers and staff, eliminate all forms of contractualization in private and public schools and government agencies and guarantee the right to self-organization, the right to collective bargaining/negotiation, and the right to peaceful concerted activities/right to strike of teachers and staff both in private and public schools. Establish a separate Magna Carta for Private School Teachers; and
13. Create policies and flesh out mechanisms for community participation and provide the necessary funding to ensure a safe return to school under the “new normal."
Click here to learn more about TDC membership.
Latest TDC Facebook Reel Highlights
Page updated
Report abuse