When the Department of Education (DepEd) confirmed that a tentative date for the opening of School Year (SY) 2021-2022 has been set, stakeholders have expressed mixed views - especially since the plan will reduce the break, both for teachers and students.
The Teachers’ Dignity Coalition (TDC) on Wednesday, April 28, cautioned DepEd on the impact of opening the new school year in August.
“We have to remind the DepEd management that our teachers have rendered their tasks for this school year starting June 1, 2020 or even earlier, thus, actually rendering overtime work since April 1 without proper compensation,” said TDC National Chairperson Benjo Basas.
TDC, a 30,000-strong group, also noted that if the DepEd is planning to reopen schools for the next school year on Aug. 23, “then it would be a clear disregard of our teachers' rights and welfare provided by existing rules.”
Basas also lamented that DepEd, as in recent cases, “plans to impose this without consulting its teachers.”
DepEd’s plan also continues to draw flak from netizens - especially since the announced school opening date would shorten the two-month break of students to six weeks.
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On Twitter, numerous profanity-laced tweets were also directed to DepEd after announcing the possibility of opening classes on Aug. 23.
Some netizens criticized the agency for shortening the students’ break while others pointed out the circumstances of teachers.
User with Twitter handle @yanna__d could not help but ask: “6 week break????????? Wow deped” while @xxmxrj_ said: “august pasukan tas tapos ng klase july pinagloloko nyo ba kami deped , pano kaming magcocollege di pa makahanap ng schools ah , tas wala pang pahinga.” august pasukan tas tapos ng klase july pinagloloko nyo ba kami deped , pano kaming magcocollege di pa makahanap ng schools ah , tas wala pang pahinga."
august pasukan tas tapos ng klase july pinagloloko nyo ba kami deped , pano kaming magcocollege di pa makahanap ng schools ah , tas wala pang pahinga
— jrxm (@xxmxrj_) April 28, 2021
Some users also raised the concerns of teachers about DepEd’s Aug. 23 school opening plan.
Twitter user with handle @AndrewGrp3 said: “Kaloka yung deped gusto august mag start klase!!!! Anooooo?!!!! Wala kaming pahinga tapos yung PBB 2 years nang lateeeee!!!!”
PBB refers to the Performance Based-Bonus (PBB) which is a "top-up incentive” given to personnel of bureaus or delivery units in accordance with their contribution to the accomplishment of their department’s overall targets and commitments.
In March, DepEd said teaching and select non-teaching personnel were eligible for the 2019 PBB.
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@TheyHateTinay pointed out that “di lang students nahihirapan @DepEd_PH teachers din!” while @juanmarkus_noted that: “Ang mga teachers po ay expose na expose sa covid. And at the same time kami pa ring mga teachers ang nagpiprint ng mga modules ngayong 3rd quarter. As a teacher hindi po talaga handa ang deped ngayong panahon ng pandemya.”
There are also users like @princessanex06 who asked DepEd to cancel the next school opening saying: “plssss pakihinto na muna ang nxt school year... Nagmamakaawa ako... Plsss hear us, hindi lahat kaya namin... Plss lang po gusto ko na ding magpahinga, makinig naman po kayo, wag lang naman po yang Business niyo ang inaalalala niyo..”
@DepEd_PH plssss pakihinto na muna ang nxt school year... Nagmamakaawa ako... Plsss hear us, hindi lahat kaya namin... Plss lang po gusto ko na ding magpahinga, makinig naman po kayo, wag lang naman po yang Business niyo ang inaalalala niyo..
— YEDAM YEDAM BANG YEDAM-- (@princessanex06) April 28, 2021