Teachers’ group disapproves DepEd policy requiring personnel to fully report onsite for work

The Teachers' Dignity Coalition (TDC) asked the Department of Education (DepEd) retract a new policy that requires all personnel from areas under Alert Level 1 to physically report to schools and offices.

We are not against physical reporting. In fact, gusto na natin ng face-to-face classes. But a 100-percent physical reporting for modular and online tasks simply defeats logic,

Basas said in a statement last Sunday.

We urge the DepEd to immediately halt the implementation of this memorandum. Further, we ask for a wide consultation with our classroom teachers including school heads,

he said.

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According to DepEd’s memorandum dated April 6, all DepEd offices, schools and community learning centers (CLCs) are directed to adhere to the 100-percent onsite reporting capacity policy that the Inter-Agency Task Force allowed under Alert Level 1.

This shall cover all teaching and nonteaching personnel, including contracts of service and job orders, in all DepEd offices, schools, and CLCs, both adopting face-to-face classes and distance learning delivery modalities,

DepEd said.

It added that full onsite reporting is an opportunity to improve the implementation of multiple learning delivery modalities, through a more efficient supervision and monitoring of the proper use of learning modules and online platform.

DepEd further added that employees who have contracted COVID-19 or identified as close contacts of suspects, probable and confirmed cases are not obligated to work and may avail excused absence or adopt a work-from-home arrangement.

Basas contended that schools already have properly functioning systems which may be disrupted by full onsite reporting. Moreover, transportation remained unreasonably costly in parts of the country as fuel prices continued to soar and internet connectivity in many schools is still either non-existent or intermittent.

Earlier, various groups had also criticized the government's decision to disallow remote work in the business process outsourcing industry, calling for a hybrid setup involving both onsite reporting and work-from-home.