Penalty for teachers in ‘no homework’ bill dropped

There will be no penalty for teachers in the proposed measure banning homework for elementary and secondary students during weekends, its proponent clarified yesterday, adding that he would still be pushing for the bill.

Quezon City 5th district Rep. Alfred Vargas revealed that he has removed the provision in his House Bill 3883 that imposes a fine of P50,000 and two years of imprisonment for teachers who would violate the measure once passed.

He said it was a “technical error” that he already corrected earlier this week with the House committee on basic education and culture, which will deliberate the measure.

Calling it an “honest mistake,” the lawmaker explained that the penalty provision was inadvertently included as Section 4 in the bill when it was meant for another bill that his office was preparing.

“If you noticed, there were two ‘Section 4’ in the bill. This was the mistake. You are correct, this is not a crime that needs a penalty. We have already taken action to correct this error,” he stressed.

Vargas has also apologized to the public for such error by his office.

“I sincerely apologize to our people, most especially to our teachers who were affected by our mistake. The inclusion of the penal clause in our ‘No Homework on Weekends Bill’ was unintentional,” he lamented.

Still, the lawmaker stressed that he would push for the measure which he believes to be “timely” and “for the benefits of students, teachers, parents and, above all, our country.”

Vargas told The STAR that the measure will not violate academic freedom as feared by the Teachers’ Dignity Coalition.

“This will not affect academic freedom because we do not intend to change the current education system or the curriculum being used by our educators and academic requirements by our schools. What we just want is to reduce the time required of our elementary and high school students for doing homework,” he pointed out.

He likewise clarified that his proposal will not remove homework in schools altogether, but only on weekends to allow students to rest.

“Our primary consideration is the mental and physical health of our students who need at least 10 hours of sleep a day for 5-10 years old and 8 hours for 10-17 years old, per the National Sleep Foundation. I believe that the health of our youth should be given utmost importance so they would be able to prepare well for regular school days,” the lawmaker stressed.

Vargas cited the study by Christopher Bermido and Ma. Victoria Carpio, heads of the Central Visayas Institute Foundation who are Ramon Magsaysay awardees, showing the effects of homework to the health of students.

He appealed to critics to keep an open mind and consider the benefits of the proposed measure.

A similar proposal, HB 3611, was filed by Sorsogon Rep. and Deputy Speaker Evelina Escudero seeking to ban homework in schools altogether and not just on weekends.

Sen. Grace Poe has filed a counterpart bill in the Senate.

Education Secretary Leonor Briones said she backs the bill as “sometimes it is not the children who do their homework at home.”

She said the Department of Education has a policy discouraging homework, but there are schools not following it because of “tradition.”