As Schools Open, Teachers Demand P15K Pay Hike

On the first day of classes today, June 8, public school teachers are set to hold a rally at the Mendiola bridge near Malacañang to demand the passage of a P15,000 across-the-board salary increase for teachers.

In a statement issued on Sunday, June 7, Teachers’ Dignity Coalition (TDC) national chairperson Benjo Basas said after morning classes formally opening school year 2026-2027, around 100 public school teachers will gather near Malacañang at 2 p.m. and reiterate their demand for a P15,000 across-the-board salary increase.

Basas said participating teachers intentionally scheduled the protest after their classroom duties to ensure that learning activities will not be disrupted.

“First, we would report to our schools before joining the rally. We would greet our students and perform our duties on the first day of classes. The purpose of the demonstration is to defend the future of the students and the education, and not cause any interruption,” he said.

The group said while policymakers frequently announce new reforms and initiatives, insufficient attention is given to the corresponding workload generated at the school level, and said the issue of compensation has become increasingly urgent as teachers are expected to navigate a rapidly changing policy environment while managing larger responsibilities inside and outside the classroom.

Through their protest, the TDC intends to remind national leaders that improving the welfare of teachers should be treated as an essential component of education reform and not a separate labor issue.

It pointed out that apart from providing classroom instruction, teachers continue to perform numerous functions related to documentation, reporting, learner interventions, community engagement and the implementation of special programs.

The coalition likewise pointed to recurring initiatives, such as the Brigada Eskwela and learning recovery interventions, including the Academic Recovery and Accessible Learning or ARAL program, that rely heavily on teachers’ participation.

Coalition members from other parts of the country will hold simultaneous activities, such as offering prayers and mass intentions, a walk and candle lighting, having selfies and group photos with their banners, while others have planned Zumba and karaoke sessions.

Thousands to benefit from reforms – DepEd

Education Secretary Sonny Angara on Sunday said 45,000 public schools and 900,000 teachers in the country stand to benefit from the department’s comprehensive learning package of reforms and support measures for school year 2026-2027.

In a statement, Angara issued guidelines on reforms that would help schools focus on what matters most: better learning and stronger support for teachers.

The guidelines were issued on the implementation of the Three-Term School Calendar, Learning Continuity in Emergencies, revised Lesson Planning and Learning Design, updated Assessment and Grading policy and the nationwide rollout of the Strengthened Senior High School Curriculum.

“We would make sure that the students would learn better, and that our teachers would receive better support. We implemented these reforms to have a clearer system, to have more effective teaching and more focused on the needs of our learners,” Angara said.

A Three-Term School Calendar would provide longer and more coherent learning periods, better pacing of lessons, and dedicated time for consolidation, remediation and enrichment activities.

The Learning Continuity in Emergencies policy would provide schools with clear protocols for sustaining learning during disruptions such as typhoons, floods, extreme heat, earthquakes and other emergencies.

To help teachers focus more on instruction, DepEd simplified lesson planning requirements through the ILAW (Intentions, Learning Experience, Assessing Learning, and Ways forward) framework. The policy streamlines documentation, prohibits additional templates beyond prescribed standards and allows the responsible use of artificial intelligence as a support tool while preserving teacher judgment and accountability.

By revising its assessment and grading guidelines, DepEd places greater emphasis on learner progress, meaningful feedback and instructional support.

Finally, the Strengthened Senior High School Curriculum, which will be implemented nationwide beginning this school year, offers more flexible learning pathways, strengthens foundational competencies, expands elective options, and better prepares graduates for higher education, employment, entrepreneurship and lifelong learning.

For public school teachers, DepEd said they would receive a P10,000 teaching allowance in accordance with the Kabalikat sa Pagtuturo Act or Republic Act 11997, which increases classroom support and helps defray out-of-pocket expenses for teaching supplies and learning materials. Angara was one of the authors of the measure during his tenure in the Senate.

‘Brigada’ turns into a family affair

The DepEd said on Sunday “Brigada Eskwela” turned into a family affair and called it “Brigada Pamilya,” as entire households shared the responsibility of cleaning, repairing, and decorating classrooms together.

In a statement, DepEd said during the five-day Brigada Eskwela from June 1-5, there were families that showed up along with parents, teachers and school personnel who volunteered in cleaning public school classrooms and other facilities in time for the opening of classes today.

“With the guidance of President Marcos, we were able to expand the concept of bayanihan to make our schools more inclusive and more family-oriented… The Brigada Eskwela is not just preparing the physical structure of the facility, but it also widened the celebration of families and communities,” Angara said.

The Philippine National Police assured the public that security measures for the opening of classes today will not compromise its anti-crime and public safety operations nationwide.

Meanwhile, the Alliance of Concerned Teachers is set to hold a “sunrise protest” at Mendiola and a “sunset protest” at Welcome Rotonda today to drum up their objection to the perennial problem of shortage of classrooms, teachers and education support personnel; and reiterate their call for better salaries, better curriculum and workload policies. — With Mark Ernest Villeza, Rainier Allan Ronda