THE ALLIANCE of Concerned Teachers denounced the Department of Education’s declaration that it is considering extending School Year 2020-2021.

The group said that DepEd should instead ease the load of students and teachers and not prolong their hardships under the “failing distance learning program.”

“The difficulties of many students in keeping up with the lessons while both learners and teachers are burned out is a clear proof that the current curriculum and the over-all learning design being implemented are not sufficiently attuned to their real situation under the health and economic crisis,” Raymond Basilio, the group’s secretary general, said.

“This is the concern that the DepEd needs to address, not pursuing its fixation with the most essential learning competencies it earlier set,” he added.

Basilio noted that teachers observed that the MELCs are too heavy to achieve under the distance learning setup. The teachers added that assessment and grading systems were not sufficiently adjusted, so even if student activities and requirements were reduced, the study load remains overwhelming for many students who struggle to self-learn in their homes.

Teachers also said that the DepEd central office has not given them sufficient training and guidance on how relevant and worthwhile learning can happen under distance learning.

“Extending the school year is also a grave labor injustice to our already stressed and burned out teachers who will be working for 13 straight months without even the benefit of vacation or sick leave, compared to their pre-pandemic schedule of 10 working months before two summer vacation months,” Basilio said.

He added that the 8-hour work rule of teachers is heavily disregarded as they have to make themselves available for students’ and parents’ queries outside class hours.

On top of these, teachers also have to prepare reports required by the DepEd.

“Talagang pagod na pagod na ang ating mga guro. They are being treated as tireless workhorses by the DepEd while they themselves also experience the stresses brought about by the pandemic and the economic crisis to their families. Nasaan ang awa ng gobyerno? Nasaan ang academic ease?” Basilio asked.

He reiterated ACT’s demand for sufficient funding and support to the education sector.

“Dagdag pasakit lamang ang extension ng school year at hindi ito solusyon sa learning crisis. Matagal na nating ipinapanawagan ang mga kongkretong hakbang para kumpunihin ang palpak na distance learning, sana ay ito ang aksiyunan ng pamahalaan,” Basilio said.