The Teachers’ Dignity Coalition on Sunday claimed that the Department of Education is ill-prepared for the opening of classes, citing several problems including the lack of learning modules.

“Classes will start on Monday but up to now, according to reports, many teachers have yet to receive the modules needed, while others are doing their last-ditch effort of reproducing the materials at their own expense. In many schools, even the sectioning of learners is yet to be completed,” Olivia De Guzman, the group’s national vice chairperson, said.

The TDC said that the system is not ready for the start of classes.

“We reiterate that the system is not prepared for the opening of classes on September 13, and while it may be too late, we appeal that the DepEd could reset it to a later date, pending the consultations with all stakeholders, including but not limited to, the teachers sector. We likewise propose the conduct of an honest assessment of the previous school year, which, although dismal, will provide us with valuable insights for a comeback success in the coming academic year,” De Guzman said.

She added that many students and their families still cannot keep up with the online requirements of distance learning, especially those who lost their livelihood because of the pandemic.

“Although the learning modality in most of the schools is modular, our teachers still need to guide the students as well as their parents in the lessons, hence the need for cellphone and internet. And because of the lockdown, home visitations have become an impossibility. If a family is struggling financially, it should be understandable for them to prioritize food over telephone or internet,” De Guzman explained.

The group said that the biggest concern of the teachers is the alleged disregard to their rights and welfare.

“Some of our colleagues who got critically infected with Covid19 spent up to millions in hospital bills, some have died, all without getting any help from DepEd,” De Guzman said.

TDC lamented that public school teachers barely had time to rest.

“As early as June 2020, we were being given official tasks which lasted until the end of the school year in July, 2021, these tasks have stolen from us our very much needed rest time. We have been continuously working beyond normal hours without the pay required by law,” it said.

“Our clerical tasks and online duties continue up to now, not even a national holiday was spared—we were forced to attend a whole day virtual seminar. We were denied adequate rest and did not have time to recharge physically, emotionally and mentally,” De Guzman said.

The TDC, however, said that teachers are willing to work with DepEd for the success of School Year 2021-2022.