A teachers’ group on Thursday, Dec. 9, urged the leadership of the Department of Education (DepEd) to call the attention or even “take legal actions” against field officials who allegedly violate the agency’s policy on teachers’ work arrangements.

“We have received reports from the field that classroom teachers who are teaching either through modular or online modalities were compelled to report physically to their respective schools for eight hours a day, every day. Bakit? Para saan? (Why? What for?)” asked Benjo Basas, the national chairperson of Teachers ’Dignity Coalition (TDC).

Citing DepEd Order No. 11, s. of 2020, TDC said that teachers should not be required to report physically to the schools because they are able to perform their duties remotely.

This, the group added, is also in line with the alternative work arrangement (AWA) policy issued by the Civil Service Commission (CSC).

Despite this, TDC noted that many teachers are still being asked to physically report to schools. Basas also alleged that “those who refuse to report or question the order are threatened with either salary deduction or administrative case of insubordination.”

The group said that the work-from-home scheme should remain the “default set-up” for teachers until the declaration of national emergency due to the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic has been lifted.

“Sabi ng DepEd Central Office ay work-from-home dapat ang classroom teachers dahil sa distance learning, pero bakit pinapayagan niya ang mga field offices na obligahing mag-report araw-araw ang mga guro kahit wala namang gagawin sa paaralan, walang batang tuturuan doon at wala rin namang pino-provide na computer o internet connection (The DepEd Central Office says classroom teachers should work-from-home because of distance learning, but why does it allow field offices to oblige teachers to report every day even if there is nothing to do at school, no children to teach and there are no computers or internet connection provided?)” Basas said.

To determine the extent of violations in the field, TDC also initiated a series of online forum-consultations with teachers from all over the country.

“Sa mga ganitong utos kahit labag sa sariling polisiya at mai-expose sa virus ang teacher mabilis ang DepEd, pero kapag kinailangan ng tulong dahil nagka-COVID wala nang aasahan si teacher (With orders like this even if it is against its own policy and exposes the teacher to the virus, the DepEd moves fast but when help is needed because of COVID, the teacher has nothing to look forward to),” Basas said.

On Dec. 9, the TDC also had an online forum initiated by its regional chapters in the Visayas where the “violations are reportedly rampant.”