The Alliance of Concerned Teachers rejected the Department of Education’s earlier pronouncement that it is considering a two-week extension of the June 11 scheduled closing of the school year 2020-2021, saying that what the agency needs to do is to ease the study and work load of students and teachers and not prolong their hardships under the ‘failing distance learning program.’

“The difficulties of many students in keeping up with the lessons while both learners and teachers are burned out is a clear proof that the current curriculum and the over-all learning design being implemented are not sufficiently attuned to their real situation under the health and economic crisis. This is the concern that the DepEd needs to address, not pursuing its fixation with the most essential learning competencies (MELCs) it earlier set,” criticized Raymond Basilio, ACT Secretary General.

Basilio noted that in the consultations they have conducted, teachers observed that the MELCs is still too heavy to achieve under the distance learning set up while assessment and grading systems were not sufficiently adjusted, so much so that even if the teachers reduce student activities and requirements, the study load remains overwhelming for many students who struggle to self-learn in their homes. Teachers also said that the DepEd Central Office has not given them sufficient trainings and guidance on how relevant and worthwhile learning can happen under distance learning.

“Extending the school year is also a grave labor injustice to our already stressed and burned out teachers who will be working for 13 straight months without even the benefit of vacation or sick leave, compared to their pre-pandemic schedule of 10 working months before two summer vacation months,” asserted Basilio.

Basilio stressed that the workload of teachers grew heavier still under the distance learning as teachers were tasked to print and collate modules, and deliver them up to the students’ homes. He said that the 8-hour work rule is heavily disregarded as teachers have to make themselves available for students’ and parents’ queries outside class hours. On top of these, Basilio said that more reports and paper works were required by the DepEd from teachers under distance learning.

“Talagang pagod na pagod na ang ating mga guro. They are being treated as tireless workhorses by the DepEd while they themselves also experience the stresses brought about by the pandemic and the economic crisis to their families. Nasaan ang awa ng gobyerno? Nasaan ang academic ease?” asked Basilio.

Basilio reiterated ACT’s demand for the government to provide sufficient funding and support to education, and adjusting the whole distance learning content and design to suit the situation of the population under quarantine.

“Dagdag pasakit lamang ang extension ng school year at hindi ito solusyon sa learning crisis. Matagal na nating ipinapanawagan ang mga kongkretong hakbang para kumpunihin ang palpak na distance learning, sana ay ito ang aksyunan ng pamahalaan,” Basilio concluded.

Source: Alliance of Concerned Teachers-Philippines
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