THE ALLIANCE of Concerned Teachers disputed the declaration of the Department of Education that school opening was “very smooth,” pointing out the problems faced by teachers such as classroom shortage, lack of chairs and flooded schools.

“The first step to address a problem is to recognize it. We call on the DepEd to make a truthful assessment of the situation of the educational system, account how many classrooms, chairs, teachers, education support personnel, textbooks, modules, laptops, etc., are lacking so that we can work hand-in-hand in pushing for ample budgetary support for the implementation of 100 percent safe school reopening and education recovery,” Vladimer Quetua, the group’s chairperson, said.

“‘Feel-good’ stories of pretty classrooms funded by teachers’ pockets and showcase of fun activities for learners on the first day of school cannot hide the gross unpreparedness of the school reopening that is rooted from years of state abandonment of education. The fact that more than half of our school cannot implement 100 percent face-to-face classes, while the 46 percent is doing it under less than ideal conditions prove that so many things still need to be done. Let us not sweep the urgent concerns of our teachers and learners under the rug,” Quetua added.

He also cited the heavy load of teachers.

“Big classes were divided into two and alternately attends face-to-face classes and remote learning modalities. However, these were only counted as one teaching load while the teachers handling them will have to do double preparations and instruction. Maagang mauupos ang ating mga guro sa ganitong napakahirap na sistema,” he said.

“We received numerous reports of teachers who are tasked to teach for more than six hours a day, or with continuous six-hour teaching schedule sans break, or teaching six different subjects in high school that entail six preparations daily. Ang guro na nga ang taya sa mga kakulangan sa paaralan, balagoong pa sila sa trabaho,” he added.

“Simply opening the schools will not overturn the learning crisis. There has to be concrete targets on how the deficiencies in education will be filled up. There has to be an evidence-based and viable plan on how teaching and learning should be conducted. The days are counting, we need urgent action and a leadership who is on top of things.”