THE COLLEGE Editors Guild of the Philippines on Friday denounced the recent remarks of Education Secretary Leonor Briones that schools should find ways to solve their problems.

The group said Briones’ statement was a sign that the agency is avoiding its responsibility amid typhoon recovery efforts.

Last Tuesday, in a virtual press briefing, Briones said schools in typhoon-hit areas should learn how to manage their distance learning materials.

She said that schools do not need to seek directives from the Central office and find solutions themselves.

“Briones’ words painted herself a new level of low as compassion and reason seem to not exist in her lexicon. She, who wears the supposed crown of education, remains apathetic and irrational crisis after crisis, proving that wisdom does not come with age,” the group’s national president Daryl Angelo Baybado said.

CEGP said super typhoon Rolly worsened education conditions, leaving unstable internet connectivity, power outages, and floods.

The group also noted that the students and teachers have been more worried about damaged modules and gadgets than their own well-being.

“Aside from Briones, we highly call out President Rodrigo Duterte for failing to provide accessible and quality education amid the pandemic. We call on DepEd, together with the Duterte administration to channel their efforts to assist the afflicted areas and realign the national budget to the Filipino-centered departments,” Baybado said.

The typhoon damaged more than 6,000 classrooms as well as learning materials and computers.