Dear Teacher

By Marifi Jara

QUELIMANE, Mozambique–“Low status, low salary and poor working conditions infringe on the rights of teachers whilst discouraging talented young people from joining and remaining in the teaching profession. The situation must be redressed at a time when the world needs an estimated 10.3 million new teachers to reach internationally-agreed education targets by 2015.”

This was part of the statement issued jointly by the heads of four United Nations organizations — UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) Director-General Irina Bokova, UN Development Programme (UNDP) Administrator Helen Clark, UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF) Executive Director Anthony Lake and International Labour Organizations (ILO) Director-General Juan Somavia — during this year’s celebration of World Teachers’ Day last October 5.

While the statement refers to the global scene on primary education in general, it could very well have been talking about the Philippine reality in particular, especially in the public school system. And the situation is not going to get much better very soon.

Tribute was duly given by the government to our teachers on their special day last week, which was all very touching. But there were no rock-solid commitments, much less action on for instance an upgrade in salary and benefits, to improve their long-standing underprivileged status. And of course the tough condition that our teachers face is inextricably tied to the whole education policy and strategy. Up until education is sincerely and actually made a priority (read: given the appropriate funding at the national level and by local governments), our teachers will be contending with lack of facilities, inferior teaching materials, limited opportunities for professional advancement, and worst of all, a number of students per class that is practically impossible for delivering quality education.

Now, what’s a teacher to do?

We ask, please dear teacher, hold fast. Our children need you.

In as much as the celebration of World Teachers’ Day is intended to recognize the indispensible and precious role of teachers in our world today, it should also be taken as an opportunity by our teachers to reflect on themselves and re-affirm their commitment to their responsibilities.

In the maddening rush of school days — with lesson plans to prepare, teaching tools to make, papers to check, administrative duties to carry out, and many other non-academic requirements to comply with — have  you lost the tenderness that is required of someone who is looked upon as a proxy parent?

Have you lost the initiative for creativity that is essential to make learning fun for students?

Have you fallen for corrupt practices that pervade the system and dishonor this noble profession?

Have you given up on the passion to help mold young minds into thinking adults?

Have you forgotten the joys of this heroic vocation?

Based on the latest projections (Global Demand for Primary Teachers – 2010 update) by the UNESCO Institute for Statistics, the Philippines needs to recruit 127,000 primary school teachers up until 2015 if it were to meet the Millennium Development Goal of universal primary education for all.  (I suppose that does not take into account yet the proposed K+12 program, which will increase the number of school years by two.)

That sounds mighty plenty. Will the government be able to offer more than just flattering words on one special day of the year to convince that many? And could there still be that many who dream: “A teacher, that’s what I want to be.”

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