HOW CAN Education Secretary Leonor Briones say the Philippine education system has improved when schools are closed and both our teachers and students are suffering?
It is still not safe to return to face-to-face classes because until now the requirements for safe return to school such as adequate space for distancing and ventilation, water and sanitation facilities, health personnel, etc. have not been laid down.
Even before the pandemic, DepEd underestimated, closed the door and most severely red-tagged teachers who were fighting for significant salary increases, adequate and timely release of benefits and resolving annual deficits in the education system. Now that we are under the never-ending severe surge of the pandemic, the education system has deteriorated further because there are still no plans and funds for safe return to school. The shortage of learning materials for young people has increased, teachers are getting less support from the government and the salaries of the majority of teachers remain inadequate especially with the rising prices of goods.
Also, let’s not sweep under the rug the results of the Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study (TIMSS) 2019 and Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA) 2018 where the Philippines scored the lowest among 58 countries. How can we say that our education system is better under the Duterte administration if the Philippines also continues to fail to perform well in global assessments? There is still inadequate funding that starves the education sector of the requirements of personnel and for critical inputs in schools, degrades the quality of teaching and learning, and makes education more inaccessible.
The longer we keep schools closed, learning loss among students only continues to worsen. Another year of modules for students without adequate guidance from their teachers will be another wasted year for the students, teachers and parents. Another blended distance learning school year would also mean another year of overworked, under-supported and underpaid year for our dedicated teachers. We are one of only two countries left in the world that continue to shut the doors of their schools. We are also already becoming an epicenter of the pandemic in Southeast Asia.
Is Secretary Briones sure she is referring to the Philippines when she says that the opening of this year’s classes can be considered a victory?
