Amid a backdrop of dropouts, academic burnout, and other learning difficulties amidst the pandemic, high school students called out the Department of Education (DepEd) for its “poor” handling of its budget.

The National Union of Students of the Philippines - High School (NUSP-HS) on Tuesday, Aug. 17, lamented the deficiencies on DepEd’s use of its budget supposedly for the implementation of the Basic Education Learning Continuity Plan (BE-LCP) for the School Year (SY) 2020-2021.

“Ang mga deficiencies sa management ng funds ng DepEd ay napakasahol sa harap ng pagtitiis ng mga estudyante at guro sa ilalim ng distance learning (The deficiencies in the management of DepEd’s funds is the worst amid the perseverance of students and teachers under distance learning),” said NUSP-HS Executive Vice-Chairperson Lance Avery Alo.

NUSP-HS, the high school arm of the largest and oldest alliance of student councils and governments in the country, added that many young Filipinos would have benefited more the funds allocated for the implementation of distance learning were handled “better.” This statement was NUSP-HS following the Commission on Audit (COA) report which flagged DepEd in its handling of funds.

For Alo, the billions of funds spent for distance learning could have been used to meet the requisites for safe and gradual return to schools, which includes funding of school clinics, free swab testing for students, teachers, staff, and parents, aggressive contact tracing, and swift isolation --- among others.

“Should the government be keen on continuing distance learning for the next school year, they must ensure students have access to gadgets, stable internet connection, and other learning essentials,” Alo said.

Bring back face-to-face classes

NUSP-HS also pointed out that DepEd should also seriously start face-to-face learning in remote areas where there are lesser cases of COVID-19 and “ensure the students and teachers’ health and safety during the conduct” of these classes.

The group also re-echoed the clamor for the safe and gradual return to face-to-face classes - which is seen to be more inclusive as opposed to the distance learning program of the government, and the 10,000 cash aid for all students which include those who dropped out and learners in alternative learning schools.

“DepEd should be held accountable for this. Such is an injustice to the millions of struggling Filipino students,” Alo said.

NUSP-HS also called on student councils, education advocates, and the rest of the education community to ensure that DepEd “does not get away” with its alleged negligence.

“We cannot allow this, especially as we are clearly heading towards another year of distance learning,” Alo stressed.