Teachers group worried face-to-face classes may be made mandatory

The Teacher's Dignity Coalition (TDC) on Wednesday raised concern that the participation of educators in the proposed face-to-face classes on low risk areas for COVID-19 would not be voluntary.

The welfare of teachers should be also considered in the resumption of face-to-face classes, according to TDC national chairperson Benjo Basas.

“Ang pinakaproblema po namin dito na nakikita, while this is voluntary sa mga bata at mga magulang na dapat ay may consent, sa teachers mukhang hindi pupuwede na ito ay maging voluntary,” Basas said in an interview on CNN-Philippines.

“Kaya siguro hindi po kami makapag-react kasi hindi pa namin nakikita ‘yung buong pormularyo ng DepEd, ‘yung mga detalye,” he added.

Education Secretary Leonor Briones on Wednesday said that regional directors recommended 1,114 schools for the dry run for face-to-face classes.

She said they still have to ask for the approval of parents and local government units of concerned schools.

According to Basas, many teachers got COVID-19 as they performed their duties. He said that the infected teachers did not receive the help that they expected from the department.

“Marami po kasi tayong cases in the past since tumama po itong pandemya. Marami po tayong teachers na na-infect ng COVID-19 dahil sa performance ng kanilang duty sa school,” he said.

“With due respect to our Secretary, hindi po ito natulungan ng Department of Education ng tulong na inaasahan namin mula sa ahensya,” he added.

According to Briones, DepEd already set a program for the hazard pay of teachers working in areas with risk for COVID-19.

“We will be discussing all of these issues, the teachers and learners, this afternoon,” she said.

On Monday, President Rodrigo Duterte approved DepEd’s proposal to conduct face-to-face classes in areas with low COVID-19 risk in January 2021, his spokesperson Harry Roque said. — Joviland Rita/RSJ, GMA News

In May this year, the government disallowed face-to-face classes until a COVID-19 vaccine is discovered and communities have adjusted to the “new normal” in light of the pandemic.