DepEd: Onsite work for teachers required by IATF

The Department of Education (DepEd) on Tuesday said its order for public school teachers to physically report to schools followed the guidelines set by the government's COVID-19 task force. 

“I have stated that this is a requirement of the IATF (Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases) for regions and sites where the classification already is at Level 1 and 2. So physical reporting is required,” DepEd Secretary Leonor Briones said at a press briefing.

DepEd Undersecretary Diosdado San Antonio said the policy provides that the schools are the “official stations” of teachers.

On Monday, the Alliance of Concerned Teachers (ACT) criticized the DepEd for directing teachers to report to their respective schools from May 2 to 13 even if they do not have election-related duties.

“It is beyond ridiculous to force teachers without election duties to report onsite while schools are being prepared to serve as voting centers for the May 9 polls,” ACT said.

“Even DepEd's own school calendar marked the period from May 2–13 as non-school days, and therefore should also not be considered as workdays for teachers,” it added.

Earlier, the department announced the suspension of classes in public schools from May 2 to 13 due to activities related to the May 9 elections. —VBL, GMA News