MANILA, Philippines–An order from the Department of Education (DepEd) for Saturday makeup classes has a group of teachers up in arms.
According to the Teachers’ Dignity Coalition (TDC), the makeup classes due to cancellations because of bad weather, holidays and the Pope’s visit were unnecessary as the school calendar provided for “buffer days” in such cases.
It also decried the lack of consultation over the DepEd order which it described as “inconsiderate” to them and students. At the same time, the TDC wondered why the number of makeup classes ordered in Metro Manila varied from area to area.
The group claimed that Navotas City would have three Saturday classes; the City of Manila, four; and Caloocan, five. “How come the number of makeup days differed by division when we have almost the same number of class suspensions?” TDC chair Benjo Basas said, referring to the holidays declared in Metro Manila for the Pope’s visit on Jan. 15, 16 and 19.
Manila, on the other hand, also declared Jan. 9 a holiday due to the Feast of the Black Nazarene. “We are not convinced that makeup classes should be implemented because we have completed all the quarterly programs from June to the end of January, thus, we are compliant with the school calendar contained in DepEd Order No. 18 series of 2014,” he said.
Basas said that teachers as a general rule work beyond their official time so Saturdays were reserved for family and postgraduate studies. The TDC will have a dialogue with National Capital Region officials Monday regarding the DepEd order.–Dona Z. Pazzibugan