MEMBERS of the Alliance of Concerned Teachers (ACT) raised the alarm over the well-being of educators in Baguio City after a 29-year-old teacher died of a massive stroke.
Joey Simeon was found lifeless at his desk in the Pines City National High School Pinget Annex on February 10.
“Simeon was the school disbursement officer and doubles as its property custodian. He also had four teaching loads, and was the adviser of the Supreme Student Government and the Scout Master. Besides these items on his load, he also helped in other school activities like the overseeing of flower festival presentations and participation and the preparation of the annual Junior-Senior Prom,” ACT said in a statement.
Simeon had just been promoted as Teacher III with a corresponding increase in his salary.
He and scouts under his ward also got promoted as he had always aimed at getting for all of them the Eagles rank, the highest in Philippine scouting.
Pines City National High School Pinget Annex Principal Erwin Allaga said Simeon was an “achiever” and was close to being a workaholic.
He said Simeon was the second faculty member in a span of four months who had a stroke in the line of duty. The first was Benjamin Diaz, 40, who is presently undergoing physical therapy.
Jeannette Ribaya-Cawiding of ACT – Cordillera said the health of teachers in the city and the region is being looked into after the death of Simeon.
ACT reports reveal that Simeon worked his way through college as a janitor and graduated Cum Laude (with honors) at the University of the Cordilleras (UC).
He went on to complete his Masters of Arts in Education (Araling Panlipunan) at the Benguet State University (BSU).
ACT said another teacher, Laila Kiw-isen, Master Teacher II, of Baguio City National High School, is currently under observation for a work-related ailment.
“Public school teachers nationwide have to bear the double-edged burden of being overworked and yet underpaid. While some endure long work periods in school and extended time preparing lesson plans and other required paper works that both the Department of Education (DepEd) and the Commission on Higher Education (Ched) require, many others get sick of various ailments and still a number reportedly take their own life,” ACT said in a statement.
ACT is monitoring cases involving teachers who have reportedly fallen ill due to their heavy workload and long working hours.