A group of teachers on Sunday, July 28, appealed to Local Government Units (LGUs) to “reconsider” the date of school opening in their localities to give citizens, parents, students, and teachers more time to prepare for the school year.
"Hindi naman po ang kahandaan lamang ng paaralan ang kailangang ikunsidera, kundi lalo pa ang kahandaang pisikal, sikolohikal, at pinansyal din ng mga magulang, mga bata, at maging ng mga guro (It’s not just the readiness of the school that needs to be considered, but also the physical, psychological, and financial readiness of the parents, the children, and even the teachers),” said TDC National Chairperson Benjo Basas in a statement.
TDC specifically asked mayors in Metro Manila and neighboring provinces to postpone the school opening in public schools scheduled for July 29.
The group said a one-week delay would not only give families more time to address their issues but also provide the Department of Education (DepEd) with the opportunity to prepare thoroughly.
“Marami po sa ating mga kababayan ang naapektuhan at ilan sa kanila ang nawalan ng tahanan o nasira ang mga kagamitan; ang iba pa nga ay nawalan ng mga mahal sa buhay (Many of our fellow citizens have been affected, with some losing their homes or having their belongings destroyed, and others even losing loved ones),” Basas added.
TDC appealed following the Department of Education’s announcement that the opening of classes would proceed in “flood-free schools” in regions and provinces affected by Typhoon Carina, monsoon rains, and flooding, including Metro Manila.
In line with President Marcos' directive, Education Secretary Sonny Angara stated that school opening should proceed “as much as possible” on the scheduled date of July 29, except in localities where it is not feasible.
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In severely affected areas, local government executives and school officials have the authority to postpone classes.
Earlier, TDC had called on Angara and Marcos to delay the opening of classes for at least a week to allow affected individuals to address their domestic challenges stemming from the calamity.
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"Kaya ngayon po nananawagan kami sa ating mga mayor at gobernador na gamitin ang kanilang awtoridad para makunsidera pa ang kahit isang linggong pagpapaliban at kausapin ang kani-kanilang mga nasasakupan (So now we are calling on our mayors and governors to use their authority to consider even a one-week delay and to speak with their respective constituents),” Basas said.
If possible, Basas said parents and teachers should be consulted directly, emphasizing that the assessments of some school and DepEd field officials “may not accurately reflect the true situation and sentiments on the ground.”
The latest DepEd data as of July 27 showed that 1,002 schools will not proceed with the July 29 school opening.
READ:
https://mb.com.ph/2024/7/27/july-29-opening-postponed-in-1-002-schools-dep-ed
As of July 27, DepEd’s Planning Service – Education Management Information System Enrollment Monitoring Report for SY 2024-2025 showed there are 18,996,365 learners enrolled in formal and non-formal education.
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https://mb.com.ph/2024/7/27/dep-ed-nearly-19-million-learners-enrolled-for-school-year-2024-2025