Ayon sa ilang mambabatas, nasa halos limang milyong estudyante ang nag-drop out sa eskwela kaya't wala dahilan ang Department of Education (DepEd) para magdiwang sa pagbubukas ng taong-panuruan 2021-2022.
Tinira ng mga Makabayan bloc ang ani’y tagumpay na pagbubukas ng klase para kay Education Secretary Leonor Briones.
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Sabi ni House Asst. Minority leader and Gabriela Partylist Rep. Arlene Brosas, napakaraming eskwelahan pa ang sarado habang pasan ng mga magulang ang bagaheng dala ng distance learning.
Dagdag ni ACT Teachers Partylist Rep. France Castro, “walang tagumpay habang nanatiling sarado ang mga eskwelahan at hindi ligtas na makakabalik ang mga bata.”
“How can DepEd Secretary Leonor Briones say that the Philippine education system has improved when schools are closed and both our teachers and students are suffering?” tanong ni Castro.
Nagbunyi si Briones kasunod ng pagbubukas ng klase ngayong Lunes, pagpupunto ng pangalawang pagpapatuloy ng distance learning sa gitna pa rin ng coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic.
“Nearly five million students dropped out from enrolment as schools remain closed while mothers continue to bear the brunt of distance learning. What is there to celebrate about?” sabi ni Brosas.
”That is an insult to mothers and teachers who are helplessly filling in the wide gaps of the government in implementing distance learning. I hope Sec. Briones really knows what victory she is referring to,’ dagdag niya.
Para kay Castro, “the Duterte administration failed to give a substantial salary increase for our teachers. The increase was not enough to cope with the rising cost of basic goods especially now with the additional costs of blended distance learning.”
“The Duterte administration cannot claim victory as long as it denies our teachers their demands for P1,500 monthly internet allowances, overtime pay, gadgets for the distance learning of both students and teachers, adequate and timely release of modules and as long as there are no concrete plans for the safe return of students to face-to-face classes the Duterte administration cannot claim victory,” dagdag niya.
Ben Rosario
