Despite the shortages in school facilities, lack of resources, inadequate compensation for teachers and other woes brought about by the government’s alleged failure to prioritize education, public school teachers still welcomed the new school year with high hopes and enthusiasm.

For Grade V teacher Emmalyn Policarpio, who is the Teachers’ Dignity Coalition (TDC) spokesperson, challenges for the school opening did not stop her from preparing her classroom at Gen. T. De Leon Elementary School in Valenzuela to ensure that everything will be fine for the first day of school year. “The opening of a new school year brings excitement not only for the children but also for us teachers,” said Policarpio.

TDC chairman Benjo Basas, who is a Social Studies teacher in Baesa High School, Caloocan City, also geared up for the opening of school.

As the adviser of his school’s student government, he led the school community in Brigada Eskwela program several weeks ago to prepare the school for some 3,000 returning students.

“This year is rather special because aside from the new school year, we are also anticipating a new administration come June 30, 2010,” he said.

Basas said the teachers are expecting so much from President-elect Aquino. “During the campaign period, he guaranteed to put education as one of his top priorities and we hope that it would not end up in mere campaign promise or a political gimmick,” Basas said.

Earlier this week, the group submitted the “10-point Teachers’ Dignity Agenda” which includes the allocation of more budget to address the growing shortages in school and benchmarking of 20 percent of national budget to education sector, immediate cancellation of payment of illegitimate debts and realignment of funds to education, protection of the rights and welfare of public and private school teachers and providing them with benefits and incentives that would raise their socio-economic status.

Basas said the incoming administration must have a political will to enforce needed reforms in education sector. “We teachers are always willing to carry out our tasks everyday but we challenge the government to perform its obligation as well,” he said.

TDC, along with the Alliance of Concerned Teachers (ACT), also challenged the incoming administration to stand by the mandate of the government to ensure education for all the people by giving priority to public education beyond lip service.

“We also challenge the incoming administration that the only way out of the education crisis is through the implementation of a policy reducing debt payments and re-channeling of funds to education and other social services,” said ACT chairperson and Congressman-elect Antonio Tinio.

The two groups of teachers said that Filipino teachers are generally passionate about their vocation and that makes them all good teachers despite woes. According to Tinio and Basas, Aquino could be a better president if he would address the failures of the nine-year administration of President Arroyo and turn them into successes.