Sch break 'learning camp'
By Creselda Canda-Lopez
"Teachers are not machines," Alliance of Concerned Teachers (ACT chairman Vladimer Quetua said national learning camp is being planned to address learning losses caused by COVID-19 pandemic, but groups warn additional work will deprive teachers of time to rest.
Department of Education (DepEd) is planning learning camp of three to five weeks during end-of-school-year break, set to begin next month.
Learning camp will focus on "Enrichment and Intervention activities for Grades 7 and 8 Learners" as well as "Remediation Activities for K to 12 Learners" and "Program Support Fund shall be allocated to regional offices... based on identified number of participating learners and teachers," according to DepEd's memorandum.
But ACT says learning camps are not solution to learning recovery.
He explained program is not mandatory, it deprives teachers "of their right to ample rest and time to recuperate from grueling work of more than 10 months straight without sick leave nor vacation leave benefits, not to mention increasingly shortened school break in recent school years."
ACT warned DepEd's program "can be even more detrimental to well-being of our already overworked and burned-out teachers."
In separate statement, Teachers' Dignity Coalition (TDC) maintained teachers are entitled to two-month school break since they do not have any paid vacation or sick leave.
"While we understand need for measure to help students who encounter difficulties during classes, this should be done with utmost consideration to welfare and rights of our teachers," said TDC chairman Benjo Basas.
DepEd Undersecretary for Curriculum and Teaching Gina Gonong assured teachers they will be given ample rest before program starts, and service credits will be granted.
Overload pay is still being studied.
Meanwhile, school opening should return to June now that COVID-19 restrictions have been lifted, Ilocos Sur Rep. Ronald Singson urged.
"Extreme heat experienced by teachers and students during dry season, deemed not conducive to learning, and students being unable to enjoy school break because of rainy season are main reasons why we should change opening of schools," Singson explained.
He filed House Bill 8508, l bring school opening back to June, as calls for its return surged after more than 100 students in Laguna were hospitalized due to hunger and dehydration during surprise fire drill in March.
The heat index when fire drill occurred was between 39 to 42 degrees Celsius.
Former school calendar, sets school break from April to May, is "what suits our country best," Singson said.
Intervention programs to help underperforming students catch up to their studies are being sought, after report found "mass promotion" led to lack of mastery in fundamental skills.
State of Philippine Education Report by Philippine Business for Education (PBEd) is referring to "unspoken but common practice" of automatically passing students, and promoting them to next grade level regardless of their competencies.
"We should no longer continue culture that just for students to graduate, they have to be passed, but they are not learning... we need to focus on how to help our teachers and students to ensure no youth is left behind," said Sen. Sherwin Gatchalian.
Gatchalian explained participants of PBEd's report 300 stakeholders including teachers and school leaders misunderstood "No Child Left Behind" concept, leading teachers to promote students regardless of their mastery of competencies.
He stressed need to assess and help students get through learning loss caused by pandemic.
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