SEVERAL part-time faculty members of the Polytechnic University of the Philippines raised concerns on the provision of monthly internet allowance for online classes.

Some of the professors raised the alarm following the announcement by school administration last Oct. 2 about the decision of the Board of Regents to only approve internet subsidy for regularly faculty members and school staff.

The notice was made in an email sent to the Deans of colleges.

“The Board approved the procurement of internet load amounting to not more than P1,000 per month for each regular faculty member and internet load amounting to not more than P500 per month for each casual or administrative personnel,” the university said.

But part-time instructors stressed that under the distance learning set-up, they also need to perform their tasks remotely and to communicate with their students using the internet.

“Sa kabuuan, parehas na parehas ang work load ng regular at part-timer. Parehas na nagtuturo, dumadalo, at gumagawa ng mga gawaing pang-departamento at pang-kolehiyo. Naatasan sila ng mga extrang gawain parehas sa mga regular. Sana naman makita ito bilang mas mabigat na katotohan at hindi umiral ang utak o kamalayang part-timer sila,” a concerned faculty said.

In a text message, PUP President Dr. Manuel Muhi clarified that the provision of monthly internet allowance for part-time instructors is not possible, but instead, they will just be given full access in the Zoom application.

“Hindi uubra na mabigyan ng internet allowance. Bibigyan na lang sila ng access sa Zoom para magamit sa klase,” Muhi said.

The PUP official added the university is planning to give an incentive to part-time instructors who wrote instructional materials for modular learning upon the release of the guidelines.

“Kung gumawa ng IMS ang mga part-time faculty baka mabigyan sila ng honorarium. Inaayos pa ang guidelines nito,” said Muhi.

Classes in PUP start on October 5 using Flexible Technology-Enhanced Learning which includes online and correspondence mode.