A TEACHERS’ group has expressed support for faculty members of the Ateneo de Manila University who said they were being neglected by the school administration.
The Council of Teachers and Staff of Colleges and Universities in the Philippines (CoTeSCUP) said the Ateneo faculty’s concerns showed a lack of educator representation in university policymaking.
“We believe that their concerns resonate not just within their institution, but across private educational institutions in our country,” CoTeSCUP said in a statement on Aug. 29.
“We applaud the courage exhibited by the Ateneo faculty in highlighting pressing matters that deserve attention within the academic community. Their concerns reflect the broader issue where the voices and needs of educators are sidelined in decision-making processes,” it added.
On Aug. 25, the Ateneo faculty released an open letter addressed to administrators, citing “urgent concerns” left out on the Jesuit-run university’s faculty day agenda.
The faculty brought up several issues, including insufficient attention to the physical, emotional, and psychological well-being of faculty members, a dearth of channels for faculty involvement in decision-making and addressing complaints, and an inadequate response to demands for improved salaries and benefits.
“This glaring absence reinforces our impression that the space in our university for communal deliberation is shrinking. We do not wish to merely be on the receiving end of policies,” the Ateneo faculty said.
“We reiterate our call for genuine and meaningful dialogue between administrators and faculty. Faculty day is our day. Kami naman po ang pakinggan ninyo (Listen to us),” it continued.
The open letter has gathered more than 300 signatories from Ateneo faculty members as of posting time.
The CoTeSCUP also underscored the need for a strong partnership between the faculty and school administration in improving faculty working conditions and students’ learning experiences.
It added that the formation of and solidarity among labor unions would ensure that such partnership would serve the best interests of all stakeholders.
“We stand united, advocating for educators’ rightful representation in shaping impactful policies. The Ateneo faculty’s courage is inspiring, promising positive changes through collective efforts,” CoTeSCUP said.
Among the signatories of the CoTeSCUP statement were its president and lead convener, Assoc. Prof. Rene Tadle, a former vice president of the UST Faculty Union (USTFU), USTFU President Emerito Gonzales, and Asst. Prof. John Vincent Ignacio of the philosophy department. Fernando Pierre Marcel B. dela Cruz
