THE ALLIANCE of Concerned Teachers gained progress in their demand for a two-week health break in areas under Alert Level 3 as the Department of Education allowed the suspension of classes for up to two weeks.

In a memorandum, the DepEd said that its regional and division offices can suspend classes depending on the Covid19 situation in their jurisdictions as long as the suspension will not exceed two weeks.

ACT, however, pushed DepEd to declare a two-week health break, saying nearly half of the country is under Alert Level 3.

“DepEd’s announcement is a clear recognition of and response to the justness of our call, so that is, in and of itself, a huge win. We commend all the teachers as well as ACT Teachers Partylist and other legislators who supported and added their voices to this pressing demand,” the group said.

“However, considering the urgency for a health break declaration and the yet-to-peak Omicron surge, DepEd’s Central Office must make the decision themselves and avoid any further delays. As of yesterday, almost half of the country has been placed under Alert Level 3—most of which are in cities and urban areas—and more may still follow. Such merits an urgent health break declaration from Secretary Briones,” Raymond Basilio, the group’s secretary general, said.

Based on the group’s monitoring, 31 provinces, 6 cities and the National Capital Region are on Alert Level 3. ACT said all schools in these areas should be put on a two-week health break as soon as possible and only the DepEd Central Office can declare such.

“Sa ganitong kalagayan, tungkulin na ng DepEd na ideklara ang health break sa lahat ng nabanggit na syudad at probinsya. Ang pagpapasa nito sa nakabababang opisina ay magpapatagal lamang at magkakait pa ng kagyat na pahingang kailangan ng mga guro at estudyante,” Basilio said.

The ACT NCR Union said that the break shall be “absolutely used for rest and recovery” and shall not be a basis for the extension of the school year.

“There are 209 class days for this school year, 200 of those can be deemed as contact time—otherwise known as Teaching-Learning Days—which gives us 20 more days than the generally prescribed 180-day contact time by DepEd. Two weeks of health break would only mean 12 days less, leaving us still with 188 days of contact time. It’s entirely doable and will not sacrifice the youth’s chance at education. Denying it, on the other hand, will have serious effects to the quality of teaching and learning,” Vladimer Quetua, president of ACT NCR Union, said.