Teacher’s death sparks policy review call

The Department of Education (DepEd) and local school officials expressed condolences Thursday following the death of a high school teacher who collapsed during a scheduled classroom observation.

Reports said that Agnes Buenaflor, an educator at Pedro E. Diaz High School, died while fulfilling her duties, according to the Schools Division Office of Muntinlupa. Officials described her as a “remarkable educator” and “cherished mentor” who impacted the lives of many students.

DepEd Chief Media Relations Officer Dennis Legaspi said the department is coordinating with the family to provide immediate assistance, including psychosocial support for students and staff who witnessed the incident.

“We mourn the loss of a dedicated educator and stand in solidarity with the school community during this time of grief,” Legaspi said.

He added that the department is investigating the circumstances of the death and requested that the public avoid spreading unverified information.

The incident has reignited a debate among labor groups regarding the stress of teacher evaluations, even as the Teachers’ Dignity Coalition (TDC) called for an urgent review of classroom observation policies, which are a key component of the national performance rating system.

The group argued that these observations should be supportive and developmental rather than serving as “punitive or judgmental” mechanisms that increase teacher workload and stress.

Meantime, the Alliance of Concerned Teachers (ACT) Philippines has called for an immediate suspension of classroom observations as it argued that the current Results-based Performance Management System should be replaced with “fair and teacher-centered alternatives,” noting that the pressure is particularly high as teachers recently returned from a break.

Both organizations used the tragedy to renew broader calls for improved teacher welfare, including livable wages, better health benefits, and increased funding for social services within the education sector.