Scrap current LCP, DepEd urged

Ateachers’ group on Friday urged the Department of Education (DepEd) “to drop” its learning continuity plan (LCP) in favor of a “less restrictive” one for the upcoming school year 2020-2021.

The Alliance of Concerned Teachers (ACT) Philippines reiterated its call to move the school opening to a later date as it was not yet ready for the start of classes on August 24.

“Malinaw‘yung LCP ng DepEd ayhindilapagsalupaathindi tugmadunsapangangailanganng Pilipinokayadapatayi- drop na ito,bitawanatmag- devise ng isang alternative form (It is clear that DepEd’s LCP is not aligned with what the Filipinos need, so they should drop this and make a new one),” said ACT Philippines Secretary General Raymond Basilio in a press briefing.

Basilio said they were one with DepEd on the principle “learning must continue” but insisted that its plan should be “less restrictive” and “not have deadlines to free parents, students, teachers from pressure.”

He also said that DepEd should relax its evaluation policies as he proposed a possible mass promotion of students, which Education Secretary Leonor Briones is not keen on imposing, saying that it is not a policy of the government.

Basilio also warned that “many” of the enrolled students would not finish the entire school year should the DepEd push through with the August 24 school opening.

With all the problems faced by parents, teachers and students related to school opening, ACT Teachers party- list Rep. France Castro said it was now up to

President Rodrigo Duterte to decide whether to push the school opening to a later date or not.

Meanwhile, DepEd said on Friday that “there is no basis to give internet or load “allowance” for teachers for now” as it shifts to blended learning due to the coronavirus pandemic.

“We are still coordinating with DBM (Department of Budget and Management) on the adjustment and policy guideline that we can use to reprogram our plan and budget to accommodate funding for this need,” Education Undersecretary Annalyn Sevilla told reporters.

DepEd earlier released a P3,500-cash allowance to teachers to cover “any teaching-related expenses” for the school year.

According to Sevilla, the “cash allowance” shall “cover the expenses of teachers for the purchase of teaching supplies and materials, tangible or intangible, for the implementation or conduct of various modes of learning delivery.”

But several groups, such as the Teachers Dignity Coalition and ACT Philippines, said the amount was not enough. They proposed instead at least P1,500 per month for teachers to cope with the blended learning program.

Sevilla also assured funding for the printing of self-learning modules for the school year as they have downloaded P9 billion to their local offices nationwide.

DepEd last week released the guidelines for the printing of learning materials for the school year. These readytoprint digital copies of the self- learning modules have been made available in an online folder created by the agency’s information and communications technology service.

“For efficient use of funds and to facilitate timely delivery of the printed self- learning materials for the first quarter, the schools division offices ( SDO) primarily, or schools as authorized jointly by regional offices and SDOs, shall set the print run based on the quantity needed and deliver these immediately to schools,” it stated.