The Department of Education (DepEd) is once again facing criticisms for alleged “discrimination” against nurses as shown in a viral learning material in social media.

A copy of a learning material is currently making its rounds online which shows drawings of people and the description of their lines of work. In the photo, it was stated that:

Ang karpintero ang gumagawa ng bahay. (The carpenter makes the house.)

Ang nars ang katulong o kasama ng doctor. (The nurse is the assistant or companion of the doctor.)

Ang chef ang tagaluto ng masasarap na pagkain. (The chef cooks delicious food.)

While the other descriptions seemed accurate, the entry describing the job of nurses draws negative feedback from netizens - especially the word “katulong” which, when translated into English, also refers to a maid.

Twitter user with handle @ShameOnYouPpl called out DepEd saying that it should pay more attention to its modules: “We are a team sa healthcare at hindi kami katulong.” 

@grapplingcid lamented that “nurses and other members of the health care team deserve all the respect and courtesy.” The user expressed hope that the learning material in question will be corrected by DepEd.

@mateorufuss, who claims to be a nurse, was offended: “Ang dami nyo pwedeng gamitin na salita upang ilarawan ang propesyon namen gaya ng ‘kaagapay, katuwang, kasama’. O kaya naman ang Nars ang tagapag alaga ng may mga sakit. Kawawa yung mga estudyante sa inyo!”

User with handle @Ipe_07 also expressed disappointment, noting: “di na nga maganda ang panananaw ng ibang Pinoy sa nurses tapos ganyan pa nakalagay sa module. Mali ang naituturo sa next generation. Hindi po kami nag-aral ng 4 years at nag board exam para lang maging “katulong.”’

@nognogdiaries, on the other hand said, pointed out: “2021 na, katulong pa rin kaming mga nars sa mga modules ninyo?” while @dyosabellsrn could not help but ask: “May problema ata sa deped noh?”

Amid the negative comments, the source of the said learning material remains unclear. There is also no clear indication that it is a part of a module approved by the DepEd.

Since the opening of this school year, DepEd has been repeatedly called out in social media for supposedly producing “erroneous” modules which - in many instances - were not approved or used by the agency for public schools.