TEACHERS Dignity Coalition welcomed the decision of the Department of Education to suspend classes in all public schools in the National Capital Region  from January 17 to 22.

“We welcome this development from the NCR regional office as well as the earlier order from the DepEd-CALABARZON. However, we should expect more confusion as the teachers compare the details of these class suspensions,” TDC National Chairperson Benjo Basas said.

TDC is one of the teachers’ organizations which led the clamor for an academic health break.

The group, however, expressed disappointment on the half-hearted move by the DepEd central office.

It cited for instance, the memorandum released by Director Francis Bringas of Calabarzon, which declared a two-week break, while NCR settled for only one week.

In Central Luzon, meanwhile, the respective division offices released their own versions of the memorandum as the regional office has yet to release one for the entire region.

The worst, according to Basas, are those areas that may not respond on time, or will deliberately ignore the Central Office memo, having been given the discretion.

“Ito na nga ang pinangangambahang resulta, ang kawalan ng iisang direktiba mula sa Central Office. Kaya marami sa aming mga kapatid na guro sa iba’t ibang rehiyon, dibisyon, at lungsod ay napapa-#SanaAll na lamang. It only takes a uniform instruction from the secretary. After all, the entire country is suffering from this pandemic, health wise, physically and mentally,” Basas said.

The group instructed its local affiliates to act swiftly, initiate dialogues with their respective divisions, and assert the provision of the academic health break that they fought for and won, albeit with limited victory.