THE TEACHERS’ Dignity Coalition asked the Department of Education to halt the implementation of a new policy on work arrangement.

In a Facebook post, TDC National Chairperson Benjo Basas said that teachers were not consulted about the new scheme.

“We call on the DepEd to halt the implementation of DM 29, Series of 2022 and start the consultation in the field. We are not against physical reporting, in fact gusto na natin ng face-to-face classes. But a 100% physical reporting for modular and online tasks simply defeats logic,” Basas said.

The group urged Education Secretary Leonor Briones to recall the order.

It said that transportation is still unreasonably costly in many parts of the country and Internet connectivity in many schools is still either non-existent or intermittent.

“Teachers themselves are eager to go back to normal classes, but unless it is already both safe and practicable, we could lose the gains we have achieved in the last two years and be thrown back several steps, and this time, with much less assets at our disposal,” Basas said.

The group added that since the school year is now in the last remaining quarter, disrupting the set-up would not help the DepEd’s efforts against the pandemic.

“We urge the DepEd to immediately halt the implementation of this memorandum. Further, we ask for a wide consultation with our classroom teachers including school heads, especially those in affected areas,” Basas said.