Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, August 28)— The Department of Education (DepEd) on Wednesday expressed its support for the proposed “no homework” policy for primary and secondary students, saying that it would help learners find balance between personal and academic growth.
“By ensuring that they complete all assignments and projects in school, the no-homework policy enables our learners to find balance between their academic development and personal growth by having ample time for enjoyable activities with family,” the department said in a statement.
The department also cited the DepEd Memorandum No. 392 series of 2010, which advised teachers to limit assignments given to students on school days.
The memorandum, signed by then Education Secretary Armin Luistro, also proposed to eliminate homework on weekends to give students more quality time with their loved ones.
“The Department will further study the other provisions of the bills to determine the repercussions on the current teaching and learning process,” the statement further read.
Several lawmakers, including Quezon City Representative Alfred Vargas and Sorsogon Representative Evelina Escudero, have filed bills at the lower chamber that proposed a no homework policy for students from kindergarten to high school.
The Alliance of Concerned Teachers (ACT), meanwhile, noted that the proposed ban may be impossible to implement under the K-12 curriculum. It added that assignments have been an “inevitable” part of the said program.
“K12 was an experiment that tried to integrate a little bit of everything in a complicated manner, while leaving no ample time for mastery of subjects and development of critical thinking. Further, the range of topics and competencies set by the K to 12 curriculum are impossible to cover within formal class hours, resulting to added and beyond-school hour work for both teachers and students,” the teachers’ group said.
ACT likewise urged Congress to run a “comprehensive assessment and review” of the K-12 program.
