Organization of teachers questions DepEd's assertion over 'readiness' of school reopening

Alliance of Concerned Teachers (ACT) Philippines, a progressive, militant and nationalist organization of teachers, academic non-teaching personnel and non-academic non-teaching personnel says "unfounded and misguided" to DepEd claim that it is ready to start classes in August despite the current Covid-19 situation.

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The group criticized DepEd for failing to present significant decisive steps with regards to its claim.

ACT Secretary General Raymond Basilio said, “DepEd is hell-bent on convincing the public that they’re ready to open classes on August 24 without giving substantial evidence to prove their claims, aside from their decorated simulation activities which, frankly, only showed how unrealistic and inapplicable it is to the real situation of the majority of Filipino families reeling from the crisis."

Blending learning simulation conducted in Navotas has been successful and DepEd is citing it as a proof of their preparedness in implementing blended learning nationwide on August 24.

The simulations on Navotas involved a weekly online session between teachers and learners as well as with teachers and parents that added up for the rest of the week. The learners were required to study and work on their modules with the aid of their parents at an appointed schedule.

However, ACT disagreed about the simulations and said that it could only work for students with guardians who can allot time for their child during school hours and have access to needed fundamentals for distance learning. 

Basilio asked, “What about those whose parents are both working? Or those with parents at home but have to tend to other needs of the house, including other children?” 

“We have many learners here in urban areas who don’t have a single cellphone, much less a computer and internet access, in their households, or if they did, it is used by the parents who are working during class hours,” he expressed.

It is also a concern of the 7 million unenrolled students which DepEd fail to care for Basilio said.

Compared to the 27 million in SY 2019-2020, latest enrollment data from DepEd showed there are only 20.7 million enrollees for SY 2020-2021.

The government's persistence in opening the school year on August 24 was tagged by ACT as 'misguided' supposedly as it has not laid out indicators of its 'readiness' such as the national government’s funding allotment for school opening; the percentage of all schools with sufficient preventive measures for the safe and viable return of teachers to workplaces; the number of laptops acquired and distributed to teachers; the number of teachers trained to deliver quality education via the alternative modes of DepEd; the hours of airtime negotiated with TV and radio stations; concrete figures on the nationwide progress of module printing and its script adaptation for the broadcast modes of delivery; plans for those who will not enroll or who will drop out midway considering the surging crises. 

There will be 'grave repercussions' if DepEd will not address these issues or not establish vital measures before August 24, ACT warned. They are urgently requesting the government, including the DepEd Central office for the fulfillment of the requisites.