DepEd criticized by youth groups for evading accountability on distance learning issues

The Samahan ng Progresibong Kabataan (SPARK) and the National Union of Students of the Philippines (NUSP), in separate statements, criticized the Department of Education’s (DepEd) response to the increasing number of students who died by suicide since the so called "new normal" learning started this year.

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On Tuesday, DepEd issued a statement addressing the “deaths of teachers and learners” amid the pandemic. Since suicide is a “sensitive and complex” issue, DepEd said that the public should “stop directly connecting such to modules or distance learning” since the initial investigation of the cases showed that “none of them referred to distance learning as the primary cause.”

DepEd’s statement did not sit well with the youth groups who said the department is just “washing its hands off” the deaths of the students and teachers and is just trying to cover the “ugly truth that they are out of touch with reality.”

NUSP accused DepEd of trying to avoid accountability for the challenges posed by distance and blended learning on the mental health of students and teachers.

While, SPARK insisted that the blame lies with the DepEd for pushing through with distance learning despite the legitimate concerns against it as early as June.

The youth groups agreed that suicide is a sensitive and complex issue, however, NUSP said that DepEd neither expounded nor expressed any measures and plans to help ease the burden of online and modular learning. Instead, the department’s first response was to wash their hands from being accountable for their failures.

Releasing such statement now when reports of suicide and mental health problems have been rising since months ago only proves their detachment to the students and teachers’ struggles and non-existent intention to act on the education plight amid the pandemic,

the NUSP added.

On the other hand, SPARK said DepEd knew that the country was not ready to make the shift to distance learning, they knew that there was insufficient funding, that poor internet connection was outside their control, and that the modules weren’t ready, that quality education could not be ensured under their new modalities, that both teachers and students will be subjected to mental stress and yet they insisted on resuming classes.

The groups also noted that those using modules might also need to use gadgets and the internet once in a while.

The state remains oblivious to the fact that the Filipino people need comprehensive reform on mental health, one that also addresses the social determinants of mental health struggle, to prevent unfortunate deaths and the prevalence of mental illness,

the NUSP said.

We are one with the people as they weep and demand accountability. We call on them to address the students’ demands,

they added.