In the wake of the ongoing digitalization efforts in public schools, the Teachers’ Dignity Coalition (TDC) has once again pressed the government to provide every public school teacher with a free, quality and fully functional laptop unit, citing the tool as a daily necessity in the performance of their professional duties.

TDC Chairperson Benjo Basas emphasized that teachers should not be left behind in the government's push for digital transformation in education.

“Ang laptop ay hindi na lamang option, lalong hindi luho. Halos lahat ng aming gawain ay mangangailangan ng laptop—mula sa preparasyon ng leksiyon, aktuwal na pagtuturo, hanggang sa paggawa ng aming mga grades at iba pang napakaraming forms. Ang laptop ay nesesidad sa araw-araw naming buhay bilang mga guro,” Basas said. “Kung ang mga law enforcement personnel ay may government-issued firearms, ang mga guro naman ay dapat magkaroon ng government-issued laptops,” he added.

The call comes in the aftermath of the controversial 2020 procurement under former Secretary Leonor Briones, where the Commission on Audit (COA) flagged the Department of Education (DepEd) and Procurement Service-DBM for purchasing outdated laptops at nearly double the original cost. The overpriced units, averaging ₱58,300 each significantly reduced the number of laptops intended for distribution and were found to be substandard for instructional use.

“Naganap ang eskandalong ito sa kasagsagan pa naman ng pandemya, kung kailan lubos na kailangan ng mga guro ang mga kagamitang gaya ng laptop upang maipagpatuloy ang pag-aaral ng mga bata sa gitna ng kawalan ng face-to-face classes. Ngayon ang pagkakataon ng ating gobyerno para itama ito at bumawi, sa pamamagitan ng pagkakaloob ng laptop sa lahat ng guro sa pampublikong paaralan sa buong bansa,” Basas explained. 

The TDC also called for full accountability for those involved in the irregularities of the 2020 procurement, following the recent decision of the Office of the Ombudsman to file graft charges against several former officials. 

“Kinikilala namin ang hakbang ng Ombudsman. Dapat lamang na panagutin ang lahat ng may kinalaman, sakaling mapatunayan ang iregularidad o katiwalian. Kasabay nito, dapat ring punan ng pamahalaan ang kanyang pagkukulang at itama ang kanyang pagkakamali sa pamamagitan ng pagbibigay ng mga karampatang benepisyo sa ating mga guro.” Basas said.

The group maintains that the provision of laptops, much like chalk, books or a classroom, is not an added benefit but an essential support that empowers teachers to deliver quality education under the demands of modern teaching.

"Yung requirement namin sa opisyal na paggampan sa araw-araw na obligasyon ay kailangan pa naming kunin sa napakaliit naming sahod, kailangan pa naming ipangutang," Basas concluded.


Source: TDC