TEACHERS SEEK CONSULTATION ON SCHOOL OPENING

A group of teachers called for a “wide consultation” on the upcoming school opening to discuss issues and concerns of stakeholders that have to be taken into consideration before classes formally open in August.

The Teachers’ Dignity Coalition (TDC) said a wide consultation should be undertaken first before classes for School Year 2020-2021 formally start.

“We recognize the efforts of the [ Department of Education or DepEd] to spare children’s education from the casualties of the Covid- related crisis,” TDC National Chairman Benjo Basas said, referring to the coronavirus disease 2019.

He added that parents and teachers were wary of the situation under the “new normal.”

Her said the DepEd’s social media pages were “bombarded” with questions on various concerns from the stakeholders such as the accessibility and efficiency of online or distant learning and the safety of children and school personnel in a face to face or physical schooling.

Basas stressed that there were concerns that might not have been covered by the online survey held by the Education department, thus the need for consultations.

“To succeed in our common efforts to deliver education service to the Filipino children, we have to convince the parents to send their children to schools and we have to ease the fears and reservations of our frontliners — the teachers,” he said.

He added that schools should be safe zones, thus students and teachers should be tested for Covid-19.

“Free mass testing for both teachers and learners may be a requirement prior to physical schooling,” Basas said.

The DepEd had set school opening on August 24.

Education Secretary Leonor Briones

said the DepEd acknowledges the “fears and apprehensions” of learners, parents and teachers that attending schools in August “might still not be safe” in light of Covid-19.

But she gave assurances that the DepEd would implement a safe back-to-school program, which includes health standards to ensure everyone’s safety.