Comelec asked to junk another teachers' group

A TEACHERS’ group seeking congressional representation yesterday pushed for the disqualification of another teachers’ group from a similar legislative seat in the 14th Congress, accusing it of working not for the interests of a marginalized sector but for private and Catholic schools in the country.

The Alliance of Volunteer Educators (AVE), which was represented as a party-list group in the 13th Congress, said A Teacher, which was among the party-list organizations that could land a seat in the incoming legislature, is actually representing stockholders of private schools, majority of which are considered as the schools of the rich.

As proof, AVE Rep. Eulogio “Amang” Magsaysay said the principal nominee of A TEACHER to represent the group is Catholic Educators Association of the Philippines Executive Director Mariano Piamonte who was “very vocal” in defending the increase in tuition fees by private schools during past congressional hearings.

“How can this group justify its existence as a representative of the marginalized sector when it was Mr. Piamonte who defended the tuition fee increases by private and Catholic schools?” according to Magsaysay.

“A Teacher cannot be considered as a true representative of a neglected sector of society like the teachers,” he said.

Magsaysay, who claimed that AVE garnered the needed votes to enable it to have congressional seat as a party-list group, said Congress should look deeper into the real objectives of A TEACHER in seeking congressional representation.

“It is not what a real party-list group should be because it represents a sector with other interests,” he said.

The lawmaker said a real party-list group should represent a neglected sector like teachers, farmers, drivers, fishermen and other groups that need “government attention.”

“The motives of A TEACHER in seeking congressional representation are questionable,’ he added.

by Raul S. Beltran, p.5 PEOPLE’S JOURNAL TONIGHT, June 26, 2007

Private schools may partylist?

Nangangamba ang isang partylist solon na magkaroon ng boses sa Kamara de Representante ang mga private schools dahil sa pagkakapanalo ng isa umanong “bogus” na marginalize group.

Inakusahan ni Alliance of Volunteer Educators Rep. Eulogio “Amang” Magsaysay ang partylist na A Teacher na hindi umano kumakatawan sa mga guro.

Nauna ng nghain ng disqualification case sa Commission on Elections si Magsaysay laban sa A Teacher, na isa sa partylist groups na makakakuha ng dalawang silya sa Kamara.

Dagdag pa ni Magsaysay ang isa umanong nominee ng A Teacher ay si Mariano Piamonte, ang executive director ng Catholic Educators Association of the Philippines na dumidipensa umano sa interes ng pribadong eskuwelahan nang magkaroon ng hearing ang House committee on basic education.

ni Leifbilly Begas, p. 12 BANDERA, June 26, 2007

Kalidad ng edukasyon, pinangangambahang lalong bumaba

Nangangamba ang isang kongresista na maaaring bumaba lalo ang kalidad ng edukasyon sa mga pampublikong paaralan makaraang mapaulat ang paglipana ng mga “bopols” na public school teachers na sinasabing walang kakayahang magturo sa kanilang mga estudyante.

Ito ang ipinahayag kahapon ni Alliance of Volunteer Educators (AVE) Party-List Rep. Eulogio “Amang” Magsaysay na posibleng lalong lumala ang problema ng mababang kalidad ng edukasyon sa mga pampublikong eskuwelahan kung hindi mareresolba ang naturang problema.

Sinabi ni Magsaysay na kasalukuyang problema umano ng Department of Education (DepEd) ang kakulangan ng mga kuwalipikado at mahuhusay na guro upang magturo sa mga public schools bunsod ng pangingibang bansa ng magagaling na guro.

Binigyang diin ng Party List solon na ang pag-aabroad ng mga magagaling na titsers sa mga pampublikong eskuwelahan ay bunsod na rin ng napaka-babang pasahod na ibinibigay sa kanila ng gobyerno kung kaya’t ilan sa kanila ang napipilitang mangibang bansa.

ni Mar Rodriguez, p.1-2 BALITA, Hunyo 25, 2007