THE ALLIANCE of Concerned Teachers voiced its concern to the Department of Education’s memorandum requesting regional directors to provide data on learners and teachers in the National Learning Camp.

Though not mandatory, the agency’s planned program comprised of enrichment, intervention and remediation activities deprives teachers of their right to ample rest and time to recuperate from their grueling work, the group said.

“Hindi na naawa ang DepEd sa mga guro na ilang taon nang pinagkakaitan ng sapat na pahinga nitong nagdaang school years. Wala na ngang naging maayos na tugon sa kalagayan ng mga guro sa silid-aralan nitong mga nakaraang buwan, sasagarin pa ang pagpapatrabaho sa dapat na dalawang buwang pahinga,” Vladimer Quetua, the group’s chairperson, said.

“Matinding eksploytasyon ito sa mga guro. Dinaya na nga dahil hindi sinama ang end of school year rites mula July 10-14 sa number of school days, sa malamang pa ay kakainin pa ang ilang linggo para sa enrolment at brigada-eskwela para sa susunod na school year. Ipapaalala lang namin sa kagawaran na kaming mga guro ay hindi makina,” Quetua added.

Pushing teachers and learners beyond their limit could prove to be counterproductive to achieving education recovery, the group warned. While the program aims to address the learning gaps, it said this can be even more detrimental to the well-being of teachers.

The group said that if the program is implemented, DepEd should compensate participating teachers.