Teachers and education stakeholders expect opening of school on Aug. 24 to be disordered

On Friday, Education stakeholders warned the school opening scheduled two weeks from now will be “chaotic” with the failure of the government and the Department of Education (DepEd) to address a number of concerns including the safety of students and teachers. Even education stakeholders also voiced their worry as to the readiness of DepEd to implement its learning continuity plan.

Photo credit: ph.news.yahoo.com

Some teachers expressed also their concerns saying that if it will push through on August 24, they are expecting a disordered school opening due to lack of preparation. They are worrying of the preparation and reproduction of self-learning modules. Until now, they haven't seen the modules, they need enough time to print otherwise students will have nothing to use on the first day of classes.

At the same time, ACT Philippines Secretary General Raymond Basilio expressed frustration with the DepEd leadership for insisting on its Basic Education- Learning Continuity Plan (BE-LCP) considering it not good enough given the current situation.

Basilio said that the printing and distribution of modules is far from being completed, teachers face an impossible task of delivering education. He's also concerned on the safety of teachers who are forced to meet with parents just to explain the alternative learning delivery modalities.

Basilio plead DepEd to look for an alternative education plan that is less restrictive and more flexible so that all students regardless of their current situation would be able to have access to education.

Government should listen to appeals of the teachers, said Dr. Julie Caguiat of Coalition for People’s Right to Health.

“All the indicators tell us that we are not ready for school opening,” she said. “Safety is very questionable now and with teachers forced to go to schools, we are exposing them to the virus so public health measures are really important.”

ACT Teachers Partylist Rep. France Castro agreed.

“We have to address issues of access first, especially providing the necessary funds that will ensure the safety of both teachers and students,” she said.

With all the issues raised by various stakeholders, Renato Reyes of BAYAN said now is the time to rethink the resumption of classes as scheduled by DepEd.

The forced implementation of Modified Community Quarantine (MECQ) in select areas has added to the additional burden of education stakeholders aside from the lack of preparations of DepEd and other concerns, said Reyes.

He also remarked that the school opening should be based on the health situation and the capability of the educational system. “We are in an entirely different situation right now, so it is best to consider moving the opening of classes until agencies concerned and stakeholders are ready,” he added.