Leonor Briones, the secretary of the Department of Education (DepEd), is being slammed by netizens for calling a Bacoor, Cavite teacher “dramatic” after the latter uploaded a Facebook video showing that she and her co-teachers are using a restroom as their office due to lack of space.
Briones has been the subject of criticism since Monday, when she called the teachers “dramatic” in an interview with several reporters.
“We investigated that. Our budget is delayed, so the construction of school buildings is delayed. They had a choice, they could have held off at the laboratory room but of course, it is more dramatic, it is more touching, to hold it in the toilet,” she said.
The video Briones was referring to was the one uploaded on social media by Bacoor National High School (BNHS) teacher Maricel Herrera. Herrera posted a video showing a modestly-sized toilet that was being used as a makeshift faculty room she shared with 10 other teachers.
Following Herrera’s post, BNHS principal Anita Rom plans to sue her for neglect of duty, cyber libel, and destruction of government property because she allegedly ruined the school’s image by posting the video, reported News 5.
Public schools in the country are known for being underfunded and overcrowded. During the opening of classes early last week, Briones herself admitted that there is a need for more books, teachers, and facilities because the number of new students increases by a million each year.
Many believe that the government is not doing enough to make teachers’ jobs and students’ lives easier, which is why Briones’ comments about the BNHS teachers did not sit well with some people.
Among those who came to Herrera’s defense was a representative from an educators’ party-list group, ACT Teachers, Antonio Tinio, who said in a statement yesterday: “We urge the Department of Education to solve the age-old problem of shortages [of classrooms] instead of putting blame and threatening teachers who expose the dire scenes in their schools and are just fighting for better working conditions.””
“The DepEd is the one that’s ruining its image because they are trying to hide the truth that there is a lack of facilities in schools and not those teachers who are merely exposing the truth in what’s happening to their schools and to their students.”
Netizens had even more scathing comments about Briones.
@AlipateThinks criticized Briones for being a loyalist of President Rodrigo Duterte. “Laboratory rooms are for students, not for teachers,” she said. “Do your job!!!”
Leonor Briones is a stupid, senile Dutertard. Laboratory rooms are for students, not for teachers.
Do your job!!! https://t.co/KnzFJSgVPm
— I think… (@AlipateThinks) June 5, 2019
@xavierxace wrote that he was “overwhelmed with sadness with the way Prof Leonor Briones thinks nowadays. As DepEd Sec, she’s the country’s top educator, & if there’s one sector of this country she shouldn’t be out of touch with, it’s the teachers.”
I’m overwhelmed with sadness with the way Prof Leonor Briones thinks nowadays. As DepEd Sec, she’s the country’s top educator, & if there’s one sector of this country she shouldn’t be out of touch with, it’s the teachers.
— Xavier Ace Cardenas (@xavierxace) June 6, 2019
@TheMuslimGayGuy wrote that he has visited a lot of public schools and that most of them do not have laboratory rooms or even faculty rooms.
“OMG, she has been devoured by the system. This is the same woman defending ROTC. I am so disappointed!” he wrote.
DepEd Sec Leonor Briones, i’ve been to a lot of state schools and most of them walang laboratory room or not even a faculty room.
OMG, kinain na sya ng sistema. This is the same woman defending ROTC. I am so disapointed! @DepEd_PH https://t.co/SW1a8zKXOz
— RHADEM 🏳️🌈 #ResistTogether (@TheMuslimGayGuy) June 5, 2019
In May, Briones expressed support for the pending Reserved Officers’ Training Corps (ROTC) bills in Congress and Senate that will make ROTC mandatory for all students in Grades 11 and Grades 12. She believes that it is just right that these students will become the country’s first line of defense.
Some groups, however, pointed out that the program has been marred by corruption and other abuses.
What are your thoughts about Briones’ statements? Tell us by leaving a comment below or tweeting to @CoconutsManila.
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