EDUCATION advocacy group E-Net Philippines and other education stakeholders called on the government to address the education needs of the poor and disadvantaged sectors six days before classes ‪start on October 5.

Citing data from the Department of Education, Professor Flora Arellano, E-Net president, said that there are still 3.3 million students who have yet to enroll this school year. DepEd said that only 24.9 million students (98 percent in public, 48 percent in private schools) enrolled this year, lower than the 27.7 million enrollees last year.

“Those who were unable to enroll, including learners with disabilities, out of school-youth, Muslim and indigenous learners, and the ‘last mile’ learners, they are the marginalized, excluded and vulnerable sectors of the education system; and will surely be left behind in the new normal,” Arellano said.

Grade 7 student and Muslim learner Jannessah Odin, from Pikit, North Cotabato in Mindanao said that most Muslim learners cannot afford the technology and have no access to internet. Odin asked the government for more funding for madrasah education programs so that more Muslim learners will have access to education.

Meanwhile, Claris Festesio of Norfil Foundation — a non-government organization that caters to the needs of abandoned, neglected and disabled children — said that there is a shortage of teachers who are trained to deal with children with special needs.

“Kulang ang mga teachers that are trained to teach learners with disabilities, especially yung mga deaf and blind. There are no assistive teaching devices for LWDS available outside of SPED [Special Education] schools,” she said.

Twenty-one year old Donnie Dela Cruz, who dropped out of college this year because he cannot afford to buy a mobile phone for online learning, shared his sadness over his disrupted education.

“Sobrang malungkot po ako kasi hindi ako makakasabay sa eskwela. Wala po akong cellphone na magagamit. Ang hirap po ng buhay ngayon pagkat nawalan ng trabaho ang magulang ko dahil sa pandemic,” Dela Cruz said.

Meanwhile, Kalipunan ng mga Sektor sa Caloocan Alternative Learning System community facilitator Corazon Siya highlighted the importance of ALS.

“Ang Alternative Learning System po ay napakalaking tulong sa mga out-of-school youth dito sa aming komunidad sa Barangays 21-23 ng Caloocan kung saan maraming pamilya ay mahihirap. Simula 2010, may average na 20 kaming out of school youth na ALS students at 65 percent sa kanila ay nakapasa ng Accreditation and Equivalency. Ang ALS din ay mahalaga para makapagpatuloy ng pag-aaral yung mga persons deprived of liberty. Sobrang nalulungkot kami kasi sa aming barangay ay walang ALS enrollment na naganap ngayong school year,” Siya said.

Public school teacher Roland Del Rosario, meanwhile, said that the implementation of primary health protocols for public school teachers remains “confusing.” Del Rosario also called on the government for more budget for teachers’ minimum health standard requirements, hazard and hardship pay.

Citing data from DepEd, Dr. Joseph Jovellanos of Samahang Manggagawang Pilipino-National Alliance of Teachers and Office Workers said that an estimated 4,488 private school teachers were laid off because of the closure of 865 private schools.

“We hope for any assistance that can be extended to them, the teachers and no-work-no-pay non-academic personnel, during these uncertain times,” Jovellanos said.

The group also urged government to address the financial, technical and legislative challenges in the education sector while resolving the effects of the pandemic, including unemployment, underemployment, lack of resources and opportunities, limited access to materials needed for distance learning like internet and gadgets, lack of teachers and teacher support, safety, among others.

“We ask the national government to fully implement Republic Act 10929 or the Free Internet Access in Public Places Act and the Magna Carta for Public School Teachers (RA4670). Please, cease the mass laying off of provisional teachers. Restore the DepEd’s realigned budgets in Learning Materials for Learners with Disabilities, SPED, Last Mile Schools Program, Internet Connectivity Program, Feeding Program, and Child Protection Program. And ensure safe back to school and provide financial support to teachers’ hygiene and hardship in workload, among others,” Arellano said.

“We strongly believe that our learners’ right to education must continue and should not be compromised, under any circumstances. Sa pagbabalik-eskwela, walang dapat maiiwan, walang maisasantabi,” he added.