A TEACHERS’ group has called on the government to address what it called a worsening education crisis based on the distance learning failures in the first quarter of School Year 2020-2021.

The Alliance of Concerned Teachers noted that the poorly-funded distance learning is fast crippling the education sector amid the coronavirus pandemic.

“The government’s utter neglect of education and ineptness in providing the essentials of distance learning erodes the resolve of learners and parents to pursue education continuity despite the pandemic, as witnessed in the deteriorating learners’ participation in distance learning activities,” Raymond Basilio, the group’s secretary general, said in a statement.

The survey conducted by the Movement for Safe, Equitable, Quality and Relevant Education showed that 54 percent of teacher respondents attested to the dwindling class participation, while 70 percent said that the target competencies are not being developed under the distance learning program.

ACT’s ground monitoring showed that worst hit are learners from the families of landless farmers in rural areas and the poorest of the urban poor whose parents have very little education and are preoccupied by their daily subsistence. Their modules are mostly unclaimed, and they cannot buy internet load to attend online classes even if local government units have lent them gadgets.

The SEQuRe survey said that 56 percent of parents spent up to P900 for a month of online learning while the 44 percent spent more.

“Teachers have been staking everything they have to keep learners in the fold of education —shouldering the costs of module printing and online classes, and gambling their own safety to distribute modules in schools and communities sans health protection and transportation support from the government. However, no amount of teachers’ sacrifices can fill in the great gaps created by the government’s abandonment of education,” Basilio said.

The group lamented the government’s lack of support for the education sector, as reflected in the P11 billion slash in the 2021 budget for Department Education.

It also cited the non-prioritization of teachers in the government’s vaccination plan.

ACT said that the problems of distance learning is taking a great toll on the frontliners who try to keep education afloat.

“The months of intensive ground preparation for the October 5 school opening saw the tripling of Covid19 infection among teachers and employees. To this day, schools still lack ample health facilities, no medical fund was established to aid infected employees, and teachers were still not granted sick leave. Teachers bemoan the sorely insufficient and delayed release of their benefits. Learners and teachers alike also suffer physically and mentally with the onerous work and study load that come with the ill-designed distance learning,” Basilio said.

The group urged the national government to immediately roll out a clear plan to prepare for the safe resumption of face-to-face classes in low-risk area. This includes the installation of health facilities, hiring of health personnel, strict observance of health protocols, and vaccination program for education frontliners.