A TEACHER in Bacoor City in Cavite province is urging the Department of Education to take appropriate action following the death of her colleague just recently.

The victim reportedly had a pre-existing medical condition which was aggravated by stress and her workload as her school prepared for the opening of classes this coming October 5.

“Malungkot ang buong Bacoor City teachers sa pagkamatay ng isa nating masayahing guro. Bigla at nakakagulat. Sama-samang pagod at pre-existing condition po ang dahilan ng pagkamatay niya. Hinihiling din po ng pamilya na huwag sanag gamitin ito sa maling info. At ginawa naman ng principal ang proteksiyon na alam niya para sa mga teachers,” Maricel, a co-teacher of the deceased, said in her Facebook post.

She urged DepEd to lay down guidelines for such unfortunate incidents.

“Kaugnay nito hinihiling natin sa DepEd central na maglabas ng malinaw na sagot. Ano nga ba ang sagutin ng DepEd sa mga ganitong pagkakataon lalo na sa school siya inatake?” she asked.

She said that teachers have been doing all the printing of learning materials that students will use for the school year 2020-2021.

The DepEd was also asked to reduce the tasks to be given to teachers who are also struggling to cope with the effects of the pandemic.

The Samahan ng Progresibong Kabataan lamented that students and teachers were the victims of what it called ‘failed educational system’.

“Ang mga estudyante at mga guro ay parehong biktima ng pagkukulang ng gobyerno at marami na ang nagpatunay nito. Base sa mga testimonya at mga kaganapan gaya nito, hindi lang basta numero kundi mga buhay ng mga nasayang na kinabukasan,” the SPARK said.

The group has also called for an academic freeze on grounds that not all students were prepared for online learning.