A MILITANT teachers group yesterday urged President Benigno Simeon Aquino III to address first the concerns of teachers,  particularly the regularization of thousands of casual employees, instead of implementing the K+12 program.

This was the call of the Alliance of Concerned Teachers to the administration of Aquino saying the program has yet to undergo “public consultation” but it will be implemented next school year.

France Castro, ACT secretary general, said that the President is boasting the move to strengthen the “universal kindergarten program” but the teachers’ concerns are being left behind.

He said thousands of public school teachers are contractual employees only and are receiving a measly P3,000 monthly allowance.

The group noted that even if the budget of the Department of Education this 2012 was P238.8 billion this is not enough to solve the lack of teachers, school rooms, armchairs and other necessities for the use of the schools. These shortages  should be addressed by the  administration.

Castro said DepEd is violating the provisions of Republic Act 4670 or the Magna Carta for Public School Teachers because contractualization of teachers is not allowed.

He expressed concern about the K + 12 Program that would entice teachers to accept  a contractual position and later gain  permanent status.

Castro said in the long run the promise will not be fulfilled because those who accepted the contractual post will remain as such just like what is happening in the private sector.

“We do not want our universal kindergarten pupils to suffer the same fate of students enrolled in basic education. If we genuinely want quality education and prepare these children to acquire lifelong skills, PNoy and DepEd must be decisive to prioritize budget for public education and other social services,”  added Castro.