INQUIRER.net FILE PHOTO
TACLOBAN CITY — The spokesperson of the Department of Education (DepEd) hsa clarified that teachers are not prohibited from using social media amid the controversy sparked with the issuance of Department Order No. 49.
DepEd spokesman Atty. Michael Poa said the order, among others, merely asked the teachers to “avoid following” their students and uphold professionalism.
“We are not ordering teachers not to use social media. What we are saying is there should be a line between teachers and the learners. Once teachers cross that line, it might create a lot of problems,” said Poa was in Tacloban on Wednesday (Nov. 9) to attend an executive meeting among officials of the DepEd in the region.
Under Department Order No. 49, DepEd personnel have to “avoid relationships, interaction, communication, including following social media with learners outside of the school setting, except if they are relatives.”
Vice President Sara Duterte, who is also education secretary, explained the order was intended to minimize biases on the part of teachers and prevent “criminal” incidents from happening.
Poa said past sexual abuses involved teachers and students used private messages as evidence.
And this is what the order wants to avoid, Poa said.
“Department Order 49 was not meant to sow fear. We want to maintain professionalism among our teachers,” he said.
Poa said teachers and their students could still be “friends” on social media and create group chats but must strictly discuss school-related matters.
Meanwhile, Poa admitted there were learning gaps affecting students as a result of the modular modality applied because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
And these learning gaps are being addressed by the DepEd starting off with the full in-person classes.
“That is why we need to start learning recovery. Each region was asked to contextualize their learning recovery plans so it could be implemented in the field. We need to start that and the good way to start that is we need to bring our learners back to school,” Poa said.
While the process may take some time, he said the DepEd is determined to breach or narrow the gaps.
RELATED STORY:
DepEd clarifies order on teachers’ use of social media to air criticisms