Fixing a Broken Heart: When Healing Starts with Listening to Teachers

The broken Philippine education system is being compared to a broken heart—one that cannot be fixed by quick remedies, but requires understanding and active listening, especially to teachers. The article responds to alarming reports that nearly 19 million Filipinos struggle with reading comprehension. While DepEd Secretary Juan Edgardo Angara denied any formal policy of mass promotion, he acknowledged systemic pressures that may compel teachers to pass underperforming students. The piece highlights how teachers are unfairly blamed for low student literacy and subjected to silent pressures such as conducting remedial classes during breaks, responding to late-night demands, and facing consequences for non-compliance. These pressures, Salatan argues, contribute to burnout, fake results, and a cycle of systemic failure. The author calls for a shift in focus—from blaming teachers to actively listening to them. He emphasizes that lasting reform must be systemic, collaborative, and rooted in valuing teachers' insights. True healing and educational transformation, the author concludes, begin not with blame, but by genuinely listening to those on the frontlines of learning.