Jauhn Etienne Villaruel

Article (news)

Jonathan Magistrado

ABS-CBN News

<div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:960px;display:block" width="960"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1784071671163Screen Shot 2026-07-15 at 6.49.33 AM (4).jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">The tragic death of a Grade 4 pupil after a school deworming activity in Cavite has exposed major, long-standing problems in Philippine public schools, according to a teachers&#x27; group. <em>Michael Joe Delizo, ABS-CBN News/File</em></span></span></span></div><p>MANILA — The tragic death of a Grade 4 pupil after a school deworming activity in Cavite has exposed major, long-standing problems in Philippine public schools, according to a teachers&#x27; group.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/health-science/2026/7/14/doh-says-deworming-remains-safe-won-t-suspend-program-after-grade-4-pupil-s-death-1655">DOH says deworming remains safe, won’t suspend program after Grade 4 pupil’s death</a></div><p>While extending condolences, the Teachers’ Dignity Coalition (TDC) asked the public to wait for the official investigation. </p><p>However, they made it clear that this tragedy, together with other recent campus incidents, is not an isolated case.</p><p>&quot;Rather, they reflect deeper and more systemic problems&quot; where a lack of non-teaching personnel leaves teachers with no choice but to perform duties beyond their professional training.</p><p>The TDC pointed out that a severe shortage of school nurses forces teachers to handle medical tasks, which can endanger student safety.</p><p>&quot;There are not enough school nurses or other health personnel, forcing teachers to perform duties that fall outside the scope of their profession,&quot; the TDC said.</p><p>The group added that teachers are constantly asked to do work that should be handled by other agencies, like the Department of Health, the Department of Social Welfare and Development, and the Commission on Elections.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/regions/2026/7/13/deped-grade-4-student-dies-of-septic-shock-after-school-deworming-activity-1308?fbclid=IwY2xjawTDpPpleHRuA2FlbQIxMABicmlkETFiaEt5QTB6YldDemRheTZJc3J0YwZhcHBfaWQQMjIyMDM5MTc4ODIwMDg5MgABHkRHhCzPVO9JiuEH-sSIF1R8HBI8qqL9-FU5o8X-uegCQC8ggJUdH-p_i6RI_aem_WenNhexnPLX4x1DoWVZVYw">DepEd: Grade 4 student dies of &#x27;septic shock&#x27; after school deworming activity</a></div><p>According to the TDC, the lack of health workers is just one of many issues caused by years of low funding and neglect. </p><p>Public schools also lack guidance counselors for student mental health, as well as security guards, it said.</p><p>&quot;This unfortunate incident should serve as a wake-up call to reexamine the condition of our public schools,&quot; the coalition stressed.</p><p>To prevent more tragedies, the group is calling on the government to provide real, long-term solutions.</p><p>&quot;These issues demand urgent action through adequate funding, sufficient personnel, and policies that genuinely safeguard the welfare and safety of every teacher and learner.&quot;</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>RELATED VIDEO</strong></div><div><strong><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/sj6qAsRx7vw?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span></strong><br/></div>

<p>The Teachers’ Dignity Coalition (TDC) pointed out that a severe shortage of school nurses forces teachers to handle medical tasks, which can endanger student safety.</p>

The Teachers’ Dignity Coalition (TDC) pointed out that a severe shortage of school nurses forces teachers to handle medical tasks, which can endanger student safety.

'Wake-up call': Cavite deworming incident exposes 'systemic failures' in public schools—group

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'Wake-up call': Cavite deworming incident exposes 'systemic failures' in public schools—group

Jonathan Magistrado,

ABS-CBN News

Published July 15, 2026 07:28 AM PHT

Read More:

deworming

Cavite

Teacher's Dignity Coalition

Department of Education

Department of Health

DSWD

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