ARE WE really ready for a safe and quality back to school on Aug. 24? The Department of Education’s (DepEd) readiness for school year 2020-2021 has to be asked.
Learning modules have yet to be downloaded, printed and distributed. Guidelines for safety measures of teachers, non-teaching personnel, learners and parents remain unclear as COVID-19 pandemic continue to worsen.
Two weeks from the scheduled start of classes, many teachers are still complaining of the lack of funds for the printing and distribution of modules, lack of support from DepEd to the teachers for online and self-learning modes in terms of internet, and transportation and protection from COVID-19 with personal protective equipment.
“Nauuwi pa nga minsan sa pamamalimos muli ang mga guro para lamang makapaghanda sa balik-eskwela dahil hindi naman binibigay ng DepEd ang mga kagamitan para sa pag-print ng modules. Si teacher pa rin ang gumagawa ng paraan upang masigurado na mayroong sapat na modyul ang mga bata,” lamented Rep. France Castro of ACT Teachers party-list.
Without addressing the scarce and late release of funds, gadgets and other tech needs, modules, and policies, DepEd unabashedly banks its readiness claim on ordinary teachers who have long borne the brunt of state neglect. No doubt our teachers will always stretch their capacities to fulfill their duty to our students, but DepEd should not use them for propaganda, not when the health and rights of teachers, students and families are on the line.
Has DepEd instituted preventive measures proportionate to the severity of the health crisis, such as medical screening, testing, and treatment of its employees and ensuring health and sanitation facilities, equipment, and personnel in every school?
Clearly, these major requisites can no longer be fulfilled in the remaining 14 days before school formally opens. So DepEd appears to have now resorted to cheaply patronizing teachers by valorizing their otherwise unnecessary struggles and sacrifices in an attempt to appease the disgruntled public with its learning continuity plan.
DepEd is sending education workers to war with what? Mere pep talk and no armaments? Resuming classes is like a suicide mission then.
Just as before, state abandonment of education will guarantee further decline of both access and quality, leaving teachers at the helm of doing DepEd’s mandate. Only this time, they will also be facing the very real threat of demise from COVID-19. This shouldn’t be the price to pay for education.
