Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, November 1) — The Department of Education (DepEd) on Tuesday denied ordering public school teachers to return laptops, desktops, tablets, and smartphones that were issued to them during the implementation of distance learning.
The Alliance of Concerned Teachers (ACT) Philippines earlier claimed it has received reports from some public schools that teachers were ordered to return the gadgets as full face-to-face classes are set to resume on Wednesday, Nov. 2.
“According to reports, all gadgets lent to teachers in Zamboanga del Sur will be retrieved from Nov. 2 to 4, to be led by the DepEd division accountant,” the group said in a statement. “In Ernesto Rondon High School in Quezon City, laptop retrieval will be on Nov. 4. The same has also been done in Abellana National High School in Cebu City and Jose Panganiban National High School in Camarines Norte,” it added.
ACT Philippines said the schools cited a memorandum issued in April 2020, which states that, “teachers are required to return the said devices upon the resumption of regular classes.”
DepEd spokesperson Michael Poa, however, clarified that there was no instruction to return the devices.
“Just spoke to our Regional Director for NCR (National Capital Region). No order was made to return gadgets,” he said.
“Our SDS (Schools Division Superintendents) for QC (Quezon City) and Malabon also confirmed na walang ganyan [there’s no such thing]. We will wait for [information] from the other areas mentioned,” Poa added.
