Party-list solon questions plan to extend school year, says mental health of teachers, students must be prioritized

ACT Teachers party-list Representative France Castro on Thursday said the Department of Education should prioritize the mental health of teachers and students instead of considering the extension of the school year. 

"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.

She also said the DepEd should not burden teachers with too many tasks. The agency should also prepare schools and its facilities for the safe reopening of face-to-face classes for the next academic 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.

Kabataan party-list Representative Sarah Elago also expressed her opposition to the DepEd’s plan. She said "health breaks" are "critical for learning" amid the pandemic.

"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.

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

Castro earlier urged the national government to study the possibility of having limited and voluntary face-to-face classes as teachers and students have been complaining against the distanced learning scheme.

On Wednesday, Education Undersecretary Diosdado San Antonio said they are eyeing to shorten the two-month summer break of students into two weeks and extending the school year.

He said they may also extend the quarter by two weeks to give students more time to complete school requirements amid the COVID-19 pandemic. — with Virgil Lopez/RSJ, GMA News