A MILITANT  teachers’ group castigated the Department of Education for ‘exploiting’ the dedication of educators after failing to meet the conditions for class resumption amid the Covid19 pandemic.

The Alliance of Concerned Teachers (ACT) said the ‘patronizing’ remarks of DepEd officials in Monday’s press briefing was a ‘cheap shot’ at covering up the lack of state protection and resource provisions for the education sector.

“Without addressing the scarce and late release of funds, gadgets and other tech needs, modules, and policies, DepEd unabashedly banked its readiness claim on ordinary teachers who have long borne the brunt of state neglect,” said ACT secretary-general Raymond Basilio in a statement.

“No doubt our teachers will always stretch their capacities to fulfill their duty to our students, but we refuse to be used for DepEd’s propaganda, not when the health and rights of our colleagues, students, and families are on the line.”

Two weeks before school opens, ACT pointed out the agency has not shown significant strides in filling in the gaps between the ‘old, grim’ state of the education system and DepEd’s own forwarded ‘new normal.’

Nor has it instituted preventive measures proportionate to the severity of the health crisis, such as medical screening, testing, and treatment of its employees, and ensuring health and sanitation facilities, equipment, and personnel in every school.

“Clearly, these major requisites can no longer be fulfilled in the remaining 14 days before school formally opens. So officials have now resorted to cheaply patronizing us by valorizing our otherwise unnecessary struggles and sacrifices in an attempt to appease the disgruntled public with their learning continuity plan. Kami pa ang ipinambabala ng DepEd sa pinasok niyang giyera,” Basilio said.

The ACT official lamented DepEd is sending education workers to war with mere pep talk and no armaments, earning the agency’s school opening plans the title ‘suicide mission.’

“Not only will LCP (learning continuity plan) endanger teachers, staff, and communities, it will also fail to meet even its own narrow objectives, said Basilio.

“Just as before, state abandonment of education will guarantee further decline of both access and quality, leaving teachers at the helm of doing DepEd’s mandate. Only this time, we’ll also be facing the very real threat of demise from Covid19. This shouldn’t be the price to pay for education.”