BACOLOD City – Some 3,000 teachers in Negros Occidental went on a mass leave on Friday to mark the observance of the World Teachers’ Day.
The teachers – who are members of the Alliance of Concerned Teachers in Negros (ACT-Negros) – held a protest march and a noise barrage in this capital city.
ACT-Negros president Gualberto Dajao said they are protesting for the plight of Filipino teachers who are “overworked, underpaid and overtaxed.”
“To show our indignation, we are launching a protest action in the form of mass leave (on) the day teachers are supposed to be honored,” a statement from ACT-Negros read.
The group called Oct. 5 a “lesson plan-free day,” adding that the black shirts its members were wearing show the grief of the underpaid teachers.
“There is no reason to be happy. Instead, there is reason to protest and demand for just and legitimate demands, like higher salary,” Dajao said.
The teachers who joined the march were from the cities of Bacolod, Talisay, Silay, and Bago, and the town of Murcia. They also held a boodle fight at the Rizal Elementary School. (With a report from PNA/PN)
