REGIONAL teachers lamented the late release of funds from the Department of Education central office and the depletion of school funds for the mass production of self-learning modules.

The Alliance of Concerned Teachers (ACT) maintained that DepEd’s sloppy fulfillment of basic education-learning continuity plan rendered the country unprepared for the opening of classes on August 24.

“Teachers aren’t the only ones strained by DepEd’s stubborn but poorly backed school opening plans. Maski mga principal umaaray na, hindi na nila alam kung paano pagkakasyahin ang kakarampot na pondo ng eskuwelahan para sa mga gastos ng LCP,” ACT secretary-general Raymond Basilio said.

The school Maintenance and Other Operating Expenses is the regular government funding for schools, computed based on the teacher and student population of school that covers expenses for utilities, supplies, equipment, repairs, and the likes.

In light of the Covid19 pandemic, DepEd ordered schools to charge to their MOOE the needed health and sanitation supplies such as personal protective equipment, alcohol, disinfectant, foot bath, and others, supplemented by collections from Brigada Eskwela.

With the late release of central funding, DepEd identified the school MOOE as a major fund source for module reproduction.

“The central office only released funds and utilization guidelines for module reproduction on the latter half of July. Many school heads have attested that the P9 billion downloaded funds from the central office have not yet reached the school level, also, given the stringent procurement rules and lengthy processes, these funds cannot deliver the needed modules any day earlier than October,” said Basilio.

“As such, schools were ordered yet again to use their MOOE for module production, supported by other secondary sources. This explains why so many of us still have to beg for bond paper supplies, printers, ink, and other materials,” Basilio said.

The ACT official stressed that school’s MOOE can in no way cover sufficiently the module reproduction expenses as its actual amount is way lower than the reproduction cost.

He cited the case of a high school in Bacolod City with 2020 MOOE of P4.5 million, but needs P5.5 million to reproduce the needed modules just for the first quarter of the school year.

He also stressed that a majority division in the National Capital Region puts module printing expenses at an average of P458 per student for the first quarter of the school year, but the annual school MOOE only contains an allotment of P200 per elementary pupil and P400 per high school student, respectively.

“The stress and pressure our school heads are experiencing right now is yet another substantial proof that we’re not ready to open schools on August 24. And unlike Secretary Leonor Briones’ absurd claims of preparedness being relative, it is on the contrary very quantifiable, concrete, and verifiable on the ground,” Basilio pointed out.

“Preparedness, at the minimum, means a 1:1 module set to pupil ratio ready for distribution by August 24, a 1:1 ratio of laptop to teachers, internet subsidy to teachers and learners, health screening, PPEs for teachers, and medical fund for free treatment if they get infected by Covid19.

The group reiterated its demand to move the opening date of formal school opening to give way for further preparations of safe, accessible, and quality education.

ACT also urged DepEd to implement an alternative, relevant learning continuity program without the rigid processes and standards demanded by a formal school year.