Solon questions DepEd’s plan to extend school year

ACT Teachers party-list Representative France Castro on Thursday questioned the plan of the Department of Education (DepEd) to extend the school year amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

“Masyado na nilang pinahahaba ang school year, for what? Stressed at overworked na mga teacher at ang mga student, nagiging irrelevant na rin ang mga klase. Dapat nilang pokusan ‘yung mental health naman ng mga guro at students at tiyakin at seryosohin ang mga rekomendasyon ng mga guro for acad ease,” Castro said in a message.

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She added the DepEd should not give teachers too much school works. She said DepEd should start preparing its schools for a safe resumption of face-to-face classes for the next school year.

“Pagaanin ang trabaho ng mga teacher at gawing relevant ang lesson. Isa pa , ihanda na rin mga school at facilities for safe reopening of face-to-face classes next academic year,” Castro said.

Meanwhile, Kabataan party-list Representative Sarah Elago also opposed the education department’s plan. She said “health breaks” are “critical for learning” amid the COVID-19 crisis.

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“Habang binibigyan natin ng flexibility at consideration yung mga hindi pa nakakapagpasa ng requirements, kailangan din natin tiyakin na mayroon namang sapat na break para sa ating education stakeholders,” she said in an online press briefing.

Solon questions DepEd’s plan to extend school year

“The summer break can also be used and must be used for the careful planning and preparation for the safe reopening of schools.”

Meanwhile, Senator Sherwin  has proposed to conduct  in more than 400 places in the country without a COVID-19 case.

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According to Gatchalian, the relevant agencies in the education sector should study the slow reopening of schools.

In addition, the Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF) also allegedly made changes to the COVID-19 protocols.

The Senator further explained that of the 1,500 Local Government Units (LGUs), 400 of them have zero COVID and some of them have not yet had a virus case because they are in remote areas, islands and are considered low risk, so it should be opened the schools here.

He also said that the DepEd should consider the gradual return of students to school or the 50% operation of classrooms.