A nation failing its teachers

By Noel Galon de Leon

The most painful truth in our society today is that many of our teachers are not happy. This is not a simple mood or passing sentiment. It is a condition shaped by years of exhaustion, underpayment, neglect and a system that constantly demands more while giving less. What makes it even more heartbreaking is that teachers themselves often lack a unified voice strong enough to demand real justice for the situation they endure. Many feel isolated. Some feel silenced. Others fear retaliation. And the saddest part is that the very administrators who should understand the struggles inside the classroom, because they were once teachers too, sometimes become enablers of a toxic environment. Too often these administrators misuse the little power they have been given and forget the humanity of the very people they supervise.

This climate becomes even more infuriating when politicians add insult to injury through careless and disrespectful remarks. When public officials such as Isko Moreno belittle or dismiss the grievances of teachers, they reveal how disconnected they are from the realities of classrooms where teachers work late, often receive delayed pay and juggle responsibilities that no single person should ever bear. These realities are not isolated cases. Teachers from Luzon to Mindanao and even in Iloilo face the same heavy burdens created by the shortcomings of our educational system.

Teachers carry serious and long-standing problems. Many grapple with overloaded teaching schedules that stretch far beyond official working hours. They spend nights checking papers, preparing modules and creating digital materials required by changes in curriculum and technology. They deal with ballooning class sizes that make individualized learning nearly impossible. They often purchase teaching materials with their own money because schools lack basic supplies. Their pay remains one of the lowest among professional workers despite the essential nature of their work. And beyond all this, they must also navigate bureaucratic requirements that drain time and energy that should have been spent teaching or resting. These are not exaggerations. These are daily realities that slowly erode morale and dignity.

This is why the growing movement of teachers who speak up and participate in rallies like the Trillion Peso March matters. Their call for accountability is not an act of rebellion but an act of self-preservation. They are not only teachers. They are human beings. They are Filipino citizens with the right to demand a government that uses public funds responsibly. When teachers march, they carry more than placards. They carry the frustrations of a neglected sector, the hopes of their students and the moral authority of a profession rooted in service. And when the church or other communities stand beside them, it shows that their struggle is not merely a labor issue but a moral one.

Raising teachers’ salaries is not a luxury. It is a necessity. When we can give competitive pay to police officers and soldiers, we must also ensure that teachers receive the compensation they deserve. Their work is nation building in its purest form. They shape the very people who will fill our future police stations, hospitals, courts, businesses and government offices. When teacher morale collapses, the entire country suffers. Good education requires teachers who are energized, not burned out. Respected, not belittled. Valued, not taken for granted.

This is why statements that insult or dismiss teachers deserve to be called out. Public servants like Isko Moreno must be reminded that their salaries come from taxpayers, including teachers who work tirelessly to earn every peso. A politician has no right to demean educators whose labor forms the backbone of national progress. If a leader finds the responsibilities of public service exhausting, then resignation is an honorable option. What is unacceptable is weaponizing one’s position to disrespect the very people whose taxes sustain the government.

We owe our teachers more than empty appreciation posts. We must offer them real respect anchored in understanding the problems they face. We must research their struggles, listen to their stories and acknowledge the flaws in the system that they must navigate every day. And yes, we must pray for them. Not as a substitute for action but as a reminder of their humanity and the emotional weight of their calling. Teachers continue to shape students who will someday lead this nation. They continue to show up even when they are tired. They continue to serve even when the system treats them unfairly. They continue to hope even when hope feels fragile.

The least we can do is stand with them. Support them. Demand justice with them. And never allow their sacrifices to be dismissed by those who should know better.