Teachers' groups urge halt of DepEd's Catch-up Fridays

Two teachers' groups have called on the Department of Education (DepEd) to suspend and review the implementation of the "Catch-up Fridays," which sets aside a day in the school week to focus on improving Filipino learners' reading skills and enhancing their academic performance.

More than a month since its implementation in all basic education public schools nationwide, the Alliance of Concerned Teachers (ACT) said teachers are the ones who bear the brunt of additional workload in preparation and implementation of the Catch-up Fridays.

"Due to the lack or insufficiency of books or materials, teachers are forced to spend on photocopying reading materials," the group said.

"Instead of regular classes during this time and preparing for upcoming exams, schools were transformed into Reading Hubs every Friday, with teachers solely focused on reading activities. Regular classes were suspended," ACT said.

ACT said DepEd's intervention programs to address learning crisis should be tailored to every individual needs of students.

"Therefore, Catch-Up Fridays should be halted, and consultations should precede any further action," it added.

Meanwhile, Teachers' Dignity Coalition (TDC) chairperson Benjo Basas said that DepEd should not hasten the implementation of the program as it may bring more problems to the education sector, rather than solving the learning losses among learners.

Even as he acknowledged that such intervention is necessary, Basas admitted that the Catch-up Fridays have brought more stress to some teachers due to the problems in schedule and the financial burden it causes.

"Sa tingin natin mga kapatid, mukhang kailangan nating i-review itong Catch-up Fridays. Ang sinasabi natin sa TDC, nagkakaisa tayo sa consensus, hindi natin kailangan itong Catch-up Fridays, with due respect sa ating DepEd, in particular Curriculum and Teaching Strand," he said.

(We think that Catch-up Fridays needs to be reviewed. We have a consensus in TDC; we believe that we don't need this Catch-up Fridays, with due respect to our DepEd, in particular the Curriculum and Teaching Strand.)

In response, DepEd spokesperson Michael Poa stressed that the department does not require students to spend money for their participation in Catch-up Fridays. 

''Wala pong nire-require ang kagawaran na dagdag expenses sa ating learners sa kanilang mga magulang o pagbili ng mga booklet,'' Poa said in Marisol Abdurahman's report on ''24 Oras Weekend'' on Saturday.

(The department does not impose additional expenses on the parents of our learners or require them to buy booklets.)

Poa also said the DepEd was open to suggestions on how to improve the program.

It was on January 12, 2024 when DepEd started designating all Fridays throughout the current school year as a "catch-up" day to enhance the academic performance of students in the K to 12  Basic Education Program, considering their low proficiency levels in reading, based on national and international large-scale assessments.

The DepEd said that during the first half of the catch-up day, the focus will be on the operationalizing of the National Reading Program, while the second half will center on fostering values, health, and peace education. There will also be a Homeroom Guidance Program every Friday.

Last week, DepEd said that it does not authorize the selling of booklets or workbooks for Catch-up Fridays, adding that school activities must not involve out-of-pocket costs. — VDV/VBL, GMA Integrated News