ACT decries online classes during calamities; DepEd says policy shouldn't be taken literally

The Alliance of Concerned Teachers (ACT) was dismayed over the Department of Education’s (DepEd's) remark that online classes may be implemented during typhoons and other calamities instead of suspending classes, calling the move “unjust and insensitive” for students and teachers alike.

ACT was reacting to the statement of DepEd spokesperson Undersecretary Michael Poa during a post-State of the Nation Address (SONA) forum that only in-person classes would now be suspended during calamities in order “to maximize learning continuity” since the Education Department was focused on learning recovery.

Poa said students were expected to continue their studies at home using alternative delivery modes, which included modules, blended learning, or online learning.

ACT Chairperson Vladimer Quetua questioned how online classes could be conducted when a learner and his or her family were dealing with inclement conditions and flooding.

“Lahat ng paraan ay gagawin talaga namin para magkaroon ng learning recovery, pero ‘yung ganitong may mga bagyo na tingin natin ay hindi lamang simpleng bagyo ang nararanasan ng mga kabababayan natin, ay dapat naman talagang ay unahin ng pamahalaan paaano susulusyunan ‘yung ating mamamayan,” said  Quetua in an Unang Balita interview on Tuesday.

(We will do everything we can to achieve learning recovery, but when there are typhoons like this, the government should prioritize helping our citizens.)

“Kapag may mga bagyong ganito, mawawalan ng klase, kailangan makatao ito,” he added.

(When there are storms like this and classes are suspended, the policies have to be humane.)

DepEd Assistant Secretary Francis Cesar Bringas, however, stressed that what Poa said should not be taken literally, as schools may opt to shift to alternative delivery modes of learning after a calamity when the situation had improved.

“I believe ‘yung aming [our] statement is not shifting to online classes kapag meron tayong mga [when we have] weather disturbances like rain and heat. What we are saying is they can automatically shift to alternative delivery modes. At kapag sinabi nating [and when we say] alternative delivery modes, that is not exclusive to online classes,” Bringas explained in a separate Unang Balita interview.

“We should not take it as literal as kapag may calamity ay magkaklase pa rin [that classes would still be held even if there’s a calamity]. Of course, ang natural order niyan is uunahin mo ang sarili mo [prioritize yourself first] and your survival, and when things are okay, that is the time that you conduct or the learners will take a look at their modules,” he added.

Based on DepEd Order 37 signed by Vice President and Education Secretary Sara Duterte, in-person and online classes from kindergarten to Grade 12, and work in public schools are automatically suspended in areas under any public storm signal.

A policy of the DO stated that modular distance learning, performance tasks, projects, or make-up classes would be implemented to ensure that learning competencies and objectives were still met by students amid the class suspensions due to calamities.

The DepEd had adopted alternative delivery modes and blended learning methodologies during the COVID-19 pandemic as part of its learning recovery program. — DVM, GMA Integrated News