Group questions DepEd’s extension of teachers’ work

MANILA, Philippines — Teachers’ Dignity Coalition (TDC), a federation of public school teachers’ associations nationwide, has questioned the Department of Education (DepEd)’s issuance of an order that will extend the work of teachers beyond school year 2021-2022 that ends on June 24.

The TDC yesterday said the extension of teachers’ work beyond the school term would deprive educators of their guaranteed two-month vacation.

For TDC national chairman Benjo Basas, the DepEd should clarify issues on DepEd Order 25 issued last week and signed by Education Undersecretary Nepomuceno Malaluan.

“This policy should be clarified because we expect teachers to enjoy a two-month vacation between the closing and opening of school years; we have the right under the law,” Basas said in a statement.

He noted that the order seems to ignore teachers’ supposed entitlement to a two-month vacation.

“The order will require some of the teachers to conduct ‘summer’ or end-of-the-school-year classes for children with failing grades in two subjects.

Meanwhile, children with low marks of 75 to 79 in any subject must attend enrichment classes. These two interventions will be held from July 24 to Aug. 12,” Basas said.

“Due to various requirements that include online activities, physical reporting, virtual and physical classes, clerical tasks and other concerns even in this time of the COVID-19 pandemic, our teachers are now exhausted and badly need a breather to prepare for another school year. This vacation is the only one that we are looking forward to, but it seems that we will be deprived of it, too,” he added.

The TDC has sought a dialogue with Malaluan, if not outgoing Education Secretary Leonor Briones, to discuss details of the order, which will be implemented by incoming DepEd secretary, vice president-elect Sara Duterte-Carpio. – Cecille Suerte Felipe, Delon Porcalla