A group of teachers urged Vice President and Education Secretary Sara Duterte to “reconsider” moving the opening of School Year (SY) 2022-2023, which has been set on Aug. 22, to a later date to give them enough time to rest.
“We are ready to take on the role but the mandated two-month school break should still be observed --- this is a matter of right,” Teachers’ Dignity Coalition (TDC) National Chair Benjo Basas said.
On July 12, DepEd formally announced that the school opening for SY 2022-23 will be on Aug. 22, 2022, with the signing by DepEd Secretary Vice President Sara Duterte of DepEd Order No. 34, s. 2022.
READ:
This development, TDC said, is contrary to the request of teachers which earlier said that teachers “should be given enough rest in order to prepare them, physically, emotionally and mentally before classes resume.”
Basas noted that the classes for SY 2021-2022 officially ended on June 24. “But to date, many teachers are still reporting to their respective schools,” he added.
TDC cited activities such as IPCRF/RPMS, EOSY Classes (remedial and enrichment), Brigada Eskwela, Oplan Balik-Eskwela, In-Service Training, and others to continue up to August or right before the intended class opening.
“In the end, our teachers will never have a break,” Basas said, adding that “teachers are very much willing to perform their duties but they need to be given what is due them.”
Basas said that teachers also need the prepare our schools for full face-to-face classes, thus, it reiterated its request for a dialogue with Duterte.
“If the Secretary would grant our request for dialogue and hear us directly, there may still be a chance for our proposal to be realized,” Basas said. “Historically, the DepEd has effected changes in the school calendar to meet specific needs,” he added.
RELATED STORY: