THE ALLIANCE of Concerned Teachers sounded the alarm on the inadequate provision of self-learning modules, warning that this could disrupt distance learning.

The group said that the shortage of self-learning modules may “further delay learners’ access to education and direly affects their quality of learning.”

“We’ve received reports citing that many schools are still at their week 3 modules on the first week of November due to the unavailability of succeeding SLMs. The reason for such varies—inability to print materials due to lack of bond papers, ink, and/or working printers; mastercopies from either the central office or local DepEd offices have yet to be sent to their schools; classroom teachers not having the time to write the modules, on top of their already overwhelming duties, as demanded by local officials; among others,” the group said.

It deplored the Department of Education’s failure to deliver on its promise that all first quarter modules will be available when school starts.

“Sobra-sobrang inhustisya na ito sa mga mag-aaral naming paulit-ulit na napipinsala ang karapatan sa edukasyon, gayundin sa amin na mga guro na nagkakandarapang punan ang tungkulin ng gobyerno sa milyon-milyong kabataan,” ACT Secretary General Raymond Basilio said.

“To make matters worse, available materials in some areas like Bicol had been made unusable by the recent effects of Typhoon Rolly, further hampering the progress made possible largely by teachers themselves in fulfilling the needs of distance learning,” he added.

The group called on the Education department to provide concrete solutions to the problems so as not to disenfranchise the youth.

“DepEd is also hereby implored to release its operational plan and status reports with clear deadlines and funding source for the printing and distribution of SLMs. We also suggest that DepEd consider the use of available textbooks pending the provision of materials, but these too are limited and incomplete,” it said.

The group also urged the national government and other concerned agencies “to look into the mounting problems in the education sector and urgently employ measures to address such.”

“The entire basic public education sector continues to reel from the consequences of the ill-prepared school opening due to persisting state abandonment. The responsibility to ensure accessible quality education do not only fall on DepEd’s shoulders but on the entire government,” Basilio said.