Cultivating a healthy work environment

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Contributed photo

TAGUIG is giving its public school teachers lounges to hang out, in a bid to put a premium on education specifically with services for the development and well-being of its students and teachers.

EM’s Signal Village Elementary School (EMSVES) in Central Signal inaugurated the first-ever Teachers’ Lounge in Taguig in ceremonies on October 17, 2019. The facility contains an entertainment area, lounge, pantry and conference room.

Ususan’s Dr. Artemio Natividad Elementary School (Danes) is targeted to launch the second Teachers’ Lounge.

Furthermore, City Hall projects that all other schools will start constructing their own in January 2020. Each of Taguig’s 26 elementary schools and 10 high schools will have a Teachers’ Lounge in three years.

The initiative is set to benefit 38 principals and up to 4,156 teachers, even more given the increasing opportunities for teachers in Taguig’s public school system.

“We recognize that our self-sacrificing teachers need a reprieve from their immense workload,” said Mayor Lino Cayetano. “The Teachers’ Lounge is a space where they can eat, unwind, bond with each other and conduct meetings. Above all else, it will raise their morale, help them destress, promote dialogue and build a sense of belonging.”

The initiative responds to bigger goals to champion better and more responsive facilities for both students and teachers; and promote an often ignored thrust, the welfare of teachers, he explained.

“Our buildings have to be relevant, resilient and responsive, yes. But we often forget to include our teachers. They have to always be an integral part of our plans if we are to further improve education in Taguig,” Cayetano added.

House Speaker Alan Peter Cayetano and Taguig public servants joined the ceremonies.

The Teachers’ Lounge will complement several highlights in the public school system of the Division of Taguig and Pateros, known for bouncing from 13th in the rankings for the National Achievement Tests in the National Capital Region to first overall for Grade 6 and Fourth Year high school within just five years, between 2010 and 2015.

Taguig is also recognized for mustering its own educational fund, making its programs run not solely reliant on the funds of the Department of Education and Department of Public Works and Highways.

Still in the same agenda of better infrastructure, Taguig recently completed the construction of four-storey and seven-storey buildings in EMSVES, an annex for Tipas Elementary School, Danes, and a four-story building in Kapt. Eddie Reyes Integrated School in Pinagsama.

Under construction are seven-story buildings in RP Cruz in Bicutan and EC Santos in Wawa. In Hagonoy, school buildings will rise in CP Tinga Elementary School. Upper Bicutan Elementary School, too, will have brand-new buildings.

In teachers’ welfare, specifically, ongoing programs already affirm the value of educators in the school system. Teachers are intentionally sent to trainings, workshops and competitions up to the international level. The Leadership and Educators Advancement and Development Program provides scholarships for public and private school employees; and further study is ongoing to expand existing programs.

Furthermore, benefitting both students and teachers, classrooms are all air-conditioned. Computer Assisted Learning is implemented in all schools, challenging teachers to improve their skills in blended learnings. Science and Integrated Schools have Mac Labs.

“The lounges are for the well-being and quality of life of our teachers. This is to better care for one of our most precious partners in developing the young minds of our children,” said Mayor Cayetano. “This redounds to the interest of the child, ultimately. A happy, content teacher is always a step in the right direction.” (PR)

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