‘INSENSITIVE’ | After teachers react, DepEd clarifies online classes not required during suspensions

August 1, 2023 , 02:48 PM

By Beatrice Puente

(August 1, 2023) – The Department of Education (DepEd) on Monday clarified that students are not required to attend online classes in case of suspension of face-to-face classes due to inclement weather after a teachers’ group slammed the “insensitive” move of still requiring attendance despite a calamity.

Over the weekend, the Alliance of Concerned Teachers (ACT) expressed its disappointment over a statement by the DepEd that alternative learning shall be implemented during bad weather rather than imposing a full suspension.

ACT chairperson Vladimer Quetua stressed that the continuation of alternative learning poses a heavy burden on students and teachers who may be facing extreme difficulty in the face of typhoons or other calamities.

“This is unjust and inhumane,” said Quetua in a statement. “Nauunawaan natin ‘yung kahingian na makaahon sa learning crisis pero sa mga panahong mas kailangang isalba ang buhay, hindi lang dapat nakatuon ang pansin ng DepEd sa learning recovery.”

In an interview with reporters, DepEd spokesperson Michael Poa clarified that online classes are also suspended when physical classes are suspended, pointing out that there are other alternative learning modalities, such as answering modules.

“Wala tayong pinapa-online classes during typhoons o anumang calamities,” said Poa. “‘Yung sinasabi nating no learning disruption is we switch our learners doon sa tinatawag nating alternative delivery modes.”

But he noted that students are not required to finish their school tasks if they are struggling because of a calamity. He added that the administrators of public schools can decide what mode of learning they will implement based on the situation in their particular location.

“Kapag nababaha na o sila ay nabibiktima na ng bagyo, we are not requiring them to really complete their alternative delivery modes or modules kasi priority natin ang kapakanan at kaligtasan ng learners at teachers,” explained Poa.

The DepEd is headed by Vice President Sara Duterte-Carpio.

For the upcoming academic year, classes in public schools will begin on August 28 and end on June 28.

More typhoons are expected to affect the country toward the end of the year. As of now, millions of people are still reeling from the effects of the monsoon rains enhanced by the back-to-back Super Typhoon Egay and Typhoon Falcon. Several areas are under a state of calamity due to the heavy rains and floods.

Meanwhile, the Teachers’ Dignity Coalition (TDC) reiterated the need to revert to the old academic calendar that starts in June and ends in March, citing the “impracticality of the present schedule.”

TDC chairperson Benjo Basas recalled the cases of heat exhaustion that students and teachers experienced during April and May.

“Due to the heat, many schools were compelled to switch to online and modular learning. Classes were also cut short for the same reason. These were done to mitigate the impact of the heat, which was exacerbated by our overcrowded, poorly ventilated, and inadequately insulated classrooms,” said Basas.

(PM)

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