TAGBILARAN CITY -- Vice President and Education Secretary Sara Duterte on Tuesday paid tribute to the Filipino teachers whom she described as builders of the nation’s dreams.

“Many dreams started inside the classrooms. Many dreams were inspired by teachers,” Duterte said at the National Teachers’ Month Kick-Off program at the Bohol Wisdom School here Tuesday morning.

Duterte said teachers are “spark of inspiration in every classroom, the guiding light of countless possibilities and better futures, and the builders of our nation’s dreams.”

“Teachers have essentially helped build our country. And teachers will always be there as we move forward with our aspirations to see a stable, secure, peaceful, and strong Philippines,” she added.

Duterte said that beyond reading, writing and numeracy, values-- such as being respectful, being prudent, being helpful and being loving and most importantly, being disciplined -- are partly formed by teachers.

“Unfortunately, these had been sidestepped by some efforts supposedly designed to improve our curriculum,” she said.

Because of this, she said the revised K to 10 curriculum will reintroduce Good Manners and Right Conduct (GMRC) to learners.

“We hope to once again make our schools and classrooms places where learners can acquire essential values to help them become better individuals,” the Vice President said.

“This is crucial because our learners are growing up in a world that is increasingly violent, unsafe, and unfriendly to children,” she added.

But the Education Secretary also acknowledged the burdens and hardships that Filipino teachers are experiencing.

“The Department of Education’s MATATAG Agenda is not just a slogan. It is our roadmap to institutionalizing reforms within the Department. This includes the protection of your rights and the promotion of your welfare,” she said.

She said interim guidelines will be issued to significantly and immediately reduce the administrative tasks of teachers.

She added that teachers will also have 30 straight days of rest during the school year break without any department activity that requires volunteer work.

Duterte said all activities with voluntary participation will be scheduled after the said 30 days.

Duterte also said the DepEd is about to sign memorandum of agreement with the Government Service Insurance System (GSIS) that would provide an exclusive lane that will handle the teachers’ concerns.

A website will also be launched soon to provide free legal assistance to teachers regarding their loan contracts.

She also disclosed that the department is also developing an automated system for an objective selection in the hiring and promotion of teachers.

“Wala nang palakasan,” Duterte said.

These announcements were welcomed with a resounding applause by the teachers present during the program.

“We will always advocate for teacher benefits as your champions,” Duterte said.

“Ang buong buwan na ito ay magsisilbing paalala sa inyong kahalagahan sa buhay ng bawat Pilipino at sa kinabukasan ng ating bansa,” she added.

The Vice President also thanked the member organizations of the National Teachers’ Day National Coordinating Council (NTDCC) led by Metrobank Foundation for helping them give tribute to the country’s teachers

She also thanked Senator Imee Marcos for joining them in celebrating the heroism of teachers.

This year’s theme, “Together4Teachers,” aims to celebrate the excellence and greatness of Filipino teachers who are partners in building a patriotic and child-friendly nation. The month-long celebration will culminate on Oct 5, in time for the World Teachers’ Day. OVP MEDIA