THE Teachers’ Dignity Coalition called for a smooth transition of school management amid the tension between the cities of Taguig and Makati following the final Supreme Court ruling that gives Taguig jurisdiction over 10 villages administered by Makati.

“With just over a week to the opening of classes, our schools will need to make preparations, and in order to do this, teachers and other school personnel should be allowed to work, business as usual. We hope that things will get better sooner,” Benjo Basas, the group’s chairman, said.

Basas said DepEd’s assumption of authority over the concerned schools would ease the tension and open the door for more friendly talks between the two local government units.

Vice President and Education Secretary Sara Duterte on Wednesday placed the 14 concerned schools under the Office of the Secretary. A subsequent reassignment order was released by Undersecretary Revsee Escobedo reshuffling the stations of four schools division superintendents in the National Capital Region including those of Makati and Taguig-Pateros.

Duterte’s order also provides for a transition committee composed of a regional director outside NCR and the respective schools division superintendents of Makati and Taguig Pateros, as well as the city legal officers of both Makati and Taguig.

Meanwhile, teachers in the affected schools are also in a dilemma.

Noel Meneses, president of the Fort Bonifacio High School Faculty Club said that the majority of teachers were affected by the issues confronting the schools division “particularly when the documents are immediately needed for transactions like certifications, assignment orders, permits, or loan applications that are very much needed in time for the beginning of classes.”

“We hope the two parties will reach an agreement to restore the normal school operations,” he said.