Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, June 9) — The Alliance of Concerned Teachers (ACT) has urged the Department of Education (DepEd) to remove the 15-day cap for the service credits of teachers, following the agency’s plan to conduct the National Learning Camp next month which will coincide with the vacation of teachers.
According to DepEd Order No. 53 of 2003, service credits are “leave credits earned for services rendered on activities during summer or Christmas vacation or in the course of the regular school year.”
Under the order, a day of vacation service credit is equivalent to one day or 8 hours of service.
“Hindi makatwiran na nililimitahan lamang sa 15 days ang counted na service credits gayong sobra-sobra sa labinlimang araw ang pinagtatrabahuhan ng guro na labas sa kaniyang pangunahing tungkulin,” ACT chairperson Vladimer Quetua said Sunday in a statement.
[Translation: It is unfair that service credits are limited to 15 days because teachers work for more than 15 days outside of their primary duty.]
“Actual work rendered ‘yon kaya dapat lamang na mayroong makatarungang compensation,”he added.
[Translation: It is actual work. That is why there should be just compensation.]
The DepEd earlier said the National Learning Camp during the end-of-school-year break aims to address learning losses due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
“The National Learning Camp is comprised of enrichment and intervention activities for Grade 7 and 8 learners as well as remediation activities for K to 12 Learners,” DepEd said in a memorandum dated June 2.
