For whom do quality teachers work for?

August 7, 2018 Educator's Corner Opinion

Recently, the Department of Education through the Schools Division of Benguet capacitated public school teachers and school heads of Tuba District on the enhanced Results-based Performance Management System (RPMS). These results-based assessment tools’ main objective is to produce quality teachers in order to attain quality educational services to Filipino learners as reflected by in the DepEd’s vision, mission and values. I am so blessed to be among the empowered participants who were mentored by our competent speakers, Sir Lucio Alawas-SGOD Chief, Sir Francis Peckley-English EPS, Sir Samuel Alangdan- EPP/TLE EPS and Madam Rosita Dayag-Itogon I PSDS.
Among the slide presentations, the most vivid that I can recall up to this time became the apple of my eyes. This is the graphic organizer of the RPMS cycle. At the center is a circle that pertains to teacher quality. Above the circle is the Philippine Professional Standards for Teachers (PPST) which appears to be the crown of the circle. It clearly pictures that the teacher quality was based from the PPST. Around the circle are circular dashed lines with L&D that stand for learning and development and TA for technical assistance from school heads and supervisors. These are the main factors in attaining the center circle’s objective-to meet the standards of teacher quality.
The graphic organizer may appear as the apple of my eye but during the process of learning the stages of the cycle, my apple cannot keep the doctor away! The learning process of RPMS seems to be a bitter medicine treating an illness. Majority of the educators felt the same way as I did for the span of the 3-day seminar-workshop.
As we reached the one of the most awaited part, closing program, Sir Lucio Alawas shared his wisdom about positive work attitude. At that moment I finally realized the meaning of the graphic organizer of the RPMS cycle. The circle at the center represents the chosen persons by God to educate the minds of learners-the teachers. The crown above the circle are God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit above teachers who provide and guide us towards wisdom and the love we need to share to learners. And lastly, the circular dashed lines to keep the cycle going represents prayers, faith, fortitude, persistence and optimism.
Sir Lucio quoted from apostle Paul’s epistles to the Ephesians and Colossians about us working for God and not for men. In Ephesians 6:5-7, the holy bible says: “Servants be obedient to them that are your masters according to the flesh, with fear and trembling, in singleness of your heart, as unto Christ; not with eyeservice, as menpleasers; doing the will of God from the heart; with good will doing service as to the Lord and not to men.”
Many times, we educators complain and reject changes in the systems that we are used to. We forget to pray for wisdom and understanding. We prefer staying in our comfort zones and these limit us to think outside the box and failing to aim for the set standards in quality education. We demand for higher salary and added benefits but we often fail to upgrade our level of teaching in order to give what are due to our learners. God made use of wise men as instruments to improve us but sometimes we mock or disobey them. Our wrong decisions are caused by our weak faith and these are reflected in our poor teaching results. Therefore we need to put God first in everything we aspire for before, during and after we teach to our learners.
I strongly agree with what Sir Lucio mentioned that we do not only teach our learners that education is the hope for progress but most importantly, we must teach them that God is the Ultimate Hope. The same is true with us teachers to do our best and God will do the rest.  So when our superiors ask the question “For whom do quality teachers work for?” we need a very accurate answer for our Means of Verifications (MOVs) to attain a rating of excellent (A+)  or outstanding (O) in His final assessment or judgement. We ought to become quality teachers to work for Him our A & O-the Alpha and Omega. JOCELYN R. BUMANGHAT, Camp 4 Elementary School