By Merlina Hernando-Malipot After the recent advisories on the suspension of classes due to inclement weather, a teachers’ group urged the Department of Education (DepEd) to remind its school officials not to require teachers to report to work. TDC National Chairperson Benjo Basas
(Teachers' Dignity Coalition / MANILA BULLETIN) The Teacher’s Dignity Coalition (TDC), in a statement, appealed to school officials that there should be “no work for teachers when classes are suspended.” The group issued this appeal following the reports that “some public school teachers in localities which have declared class suspension due to inclement weather last week were asked to report to work.” The group argued that “there is no need to report for work since the work of a teacher is to teach and if the classes are suspended, teachers cannot render their tasks for that day.” For TDC Chairperson Benjo Basas, the DepEd – since 2012 – has “clearly ordered the school system” to follow the prescription of the Executive Order No. 66 (EO 66). Based on the EO 66, automatic suspension of kindergarten classes in areas where PAGASA raised public storm signal No. 1; elementary and secondary if the signal number 2 is raised; and all levels including work in DepEd system when signal number 3 is raised. Basas said that DepEd “in fact recognizes that teachers may render Saturday classes in the future to make-up for the loss learning days with their students.” Thus, Basas noted that that at the moment of inclement weather, “teachers, just like the students, need to be safe in the comfort of our homes” because "we are not flood or waterproof, anyway.”