Teachers’ groups slam DepEd over lapel mic rollout, demand promised laptops

The Alliance of Concerned Teachers (ACT) and the Teachers’ Dignity Coalition (TDC) criticized the Department of Education (DepEd) on Aug. 3 for distributing voice amplifiers instead of the laptops promised by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.

The criticism came after several public schools received lapel microphones funded through the President’s Social Fund, following the recent State of the Nation Address (SONA) outlining plans to provide various teaching aids.

ACT Chairperson Ruby Bernardo labeled the gadget rollout an inadequate stopgap measure that fails to address severe classroom congestion, where class sizes in urban centers frequently exceed 50 students.

Bernardo also pointed out that while the national government pledged laptops for educators, schools instead received low-grade audio gear that reportedly broke after initial use.

“Noong nakaraang SONA, laptop ang ipinangako pero lapel ang dumating na ayon mismo sa mga kapwa guro ay mahinang klase at agad na nasira,” Bernardo said.

(During the last SONA, laptops were promised, but lapels arrived, which fellow teachers said were of poor quality and broke down quickly.)

Meanwhile, TDC chairperson Benjo Basas questioned the government’s priorities, pointing out that basic teaching equipment should not become an added burden for overworked teachers.

“Kung nakapaglalaan ang gobyerno ng mga baril at bala para sa mga pulis at militar upang gampanan ang kanilang tungkulin, bakit hindi rin ito makapaglaan ng laptop para sa mga guro?” Basas asked.

(If the government can provide guns and ammunition to police and the military so that they can do their duty, why can’t it give laptops to teachers?)

Both organizations highlighted that providing only 250,000 units of laptops leaves a massive deficit, failing to supply the vast majority of the nation’s 900,000 public school educators.

Bernardo further claimed that DepEd is prioritizing administrative demands while delaying essential support services for teachers.

“Mabilis ang ahensya sa pagdadagdag at pagpapabigat ng trabaho ng mga guro ngunit naiiwan sa paghahanda at napakakupad sa pagbibigay ng suporta,” Bernardo said.

(The agency is quick to add to and worsen teachers’ workload but is slow to prepare and provide support.)

With upcoming national budget talks approaching, ACT urged lawmakers to allocate at least six percent of the country’s gross domestic product to the education sector.

The teachers’ groups also called for raising entry-level teaching salaries to P50,000, boosting monthly economic relief allowances to P5,000, and hiring separate tutors for remedial reading programs.

DepEd on mic distribution

Education Secretary Sonny Angara urged educators to maximize and care for the equipment, describing the gadgets as a blessing intended to benefit students nationwide.

“Gamitin po natin ito. Alagaan din po natin ito dahil ito’y biyaya…At para sa ating mga estudyante ito,” Angara said in a recorded message played during distribution activities.

(Let’s use this lapel microphone. Let’s also take care of it because it’s a blessing. It’s for the benefit of our students, too.)

DepEd explained that the wearable microphones were distributed to deliver immediate classroom support to almost 880,000 personnel while laptop purchases are being finalized.

The agency noted that bidding protocols lowered the cost per amplifier from P480.76 to between P300 and P370 without sacrificing required quality and warranty standards.

Agency officials further clarified that the upcoming acquisition of 250,000 laptops is nearing completion following rigorous checks on battery life, device performance, and durability.