THE TEACHERS’ Dignity Coalition cried foul over the mandatory reporting of teachers in schools and asked the Department of Education to do something about it.

“We have received reports from the field that classroom teachers who are teaching either thru modular or online modalities were compelled to report physically to their respective schools for 8 hours a day, every day. Bakit? Para saan?” Benjo Basas, the group’s national chairperson, said.

Under DepEd Order No. 11, s. of 2020, teachers should not be required to report physically to school because they are able to perform their duties remotely. This is also in line with the alternative work arrangement policy issued by the Civil Service Commission.

Basas claimed that those who refuse to report or question the order were threatened with salary deduction or an administrative case of insubordination.

The TDC said that the work-from-home scheme will be the default set-up for teachers until the declaration of national emergency due to Covid19 pandemic is lifted.

The group has initiated a series of online consultations with teachers nationwide to determine the extent of violations in the field.

“Sabi ng DepEd central office ay work-from-home dapat ang classroom teachers dahil sa distance learning, pero bakit pinapayagan niya ang mga field offices na obligahing mag-report araw-araw ang mga guro kahit wala namang gagawin sa paaralan, walang batang tuturuan doon at wala rin namang pino-provide na computer o internet connection?” Basas said.

“Sa mga ganitong utos kahit labag sa sariling polisiya at ma-e-expose sa virus ang teacher mabilis ang DepEd, pero kapag kinailangan ng tulong dahil nagka-Covid wala nang aasahan si teacher,” he added.