THE ALLIANCE of Concerned Teachers opposed the Department of Education’s move to extend the school year for another month while no reforms are being done to address concerns on the distance learning program.

DepEd released on Tuesday department order 12 s.2021 moving the last class day of the school year from June 11 to July 10, 2021, and rescheduling the start of the 3rd grading period to March 22. DepEd said the move was made to make way for a two-week remedial period to “bridge learning gaps.”

“It is doubtful what adding more days to the school year can achieve if the needs are still unprovided and the approach remains unchanged. If any, it would only prolong the misery of our learners and teachers,” Raymond Basilio, ACT secretary general, said.

Basilio doubted that the two-week remedial period could bridge the learning gaps which DepEd attributed to “reduced academic opportunities at home and substantial loss of live contact with teachers.”

“If we are only to continue with the current set-up, the most the teachers can do is add more activities to which the students are having a hard time complying in the first place, or wait for the students to turn in their backlogs. These in no way guarantee the improvement of learning,” he said.

He added that extending the school year for another month would require teachers to work for fourteen months straight as they started to work for the school year on June 1, 2020.

“Our teachers are not entitled to the usual sick leave and vacation leave benefits as what they are afforded is the proportional vacation pay during the school break. It is a necessary period of rest to recharge from the usual 10 months of non-stop work. Pressing them to work for 14 months straight is grave labor abuse, not to mention counterproductive for education quality,” Basilio said.

“Obviously, the competencies that DepEd required are not realistically achievable under the limitations imposed by the pandemic and in the absence of important interventions. It only frustrates our learners, teachers and parents instead of providing them with a relevant learning experience amid the pandemic,” he added.