Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, July 30) — A teachers’ group has called the Department of Education’s (DepEd) decision to hold online classes during calamities as “unjust” and “inhumane” as it is “insensitive” to the situation of learners and their families.
“In situations like typhoon and calamity, safety is our priority. How do we conduct online classes when your learner and his/her family is currently flooded?” Vladimer Quetua, ACT chairperson, said in a statement on Sunday.
“This is unjust and inhumane. This is also insensitive to the actual situation of our general public during calamities. 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,” he added.
[Translation: This is unjust and inhumane. This is also insensitive to the actual situation of our general public during calamities. We understand the need to rise from the learning crisis, but in times where lives are at stake, the DepEd’s attention must not only be on learning recovery.]ACT issued the statement after DepEd spokesperson Michael Poa said the agency would veer away from immediately suspending classes during calamities.
“Dati po kapag ganitong may bagyo, wala na kaagad pasok; kapag may lindol or any kahit po mga man-made na disasters ay wala na tayong pasok. Pero sa ngayon, to maximize learning continuity, since we are on learning recovery mode, hindi na po tayo magsususpinde ng pasok. Ang sinususpinde lang natin ay iyong in-person classes,” he said during a briefing following President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s State of the Nation Address last Monday.
“Tuluy-tuloy po iyong pag-aaral ng ating mga learner sa kani-kanilang mga bahay using what we call ‘alternative delivery mode,’ whether it be modules, blended learning o online learning — iyan po ay nagagawa na natin sa ngayon,” he added.
[Translation: Before, when there were storms, earthquakes or any man-made disasters, we automatically suspend classes. But now, to maximize learning continuity, since we are on learning recovery mode, we will not be suspending classes. What we will suspend are in-person classes. Learners will be able to continue using what we call “alternative delivery mode,” whether it be modules, blended learning or online learning — we can do that now.]
ACT said Poa’s statement is unrealistic, adding that if the DepEd was sincere in its mission to address the situation, it would fix the curriculum, provide sufficient funding, and give “substantial” salary increases to teachers and personnel.
In 2022, the DepEd provided guidelines for class suspensions, including the automatic cancellation of classes in all levels in local government units where Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal No. 1, 2, 3, 4, or 5 has been raised by the weather bureau Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration.
