DepED Secretary Leonor Briones. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO / GRIG C. MONTEGRANDE
The Department of Education (DepEd) on Friday clarified that it is not true that Secretary Leonor Briones announced the abolition of the order requiring teachers to prepare daily lesson logs (DLL).
ACT Teachers Party-list earlier claimed that Briones abolished the DLL order, which it called an “oppressive scheme” that has caused difficulties for the teachers.
READ: ACT Teachers commends Briones for abolishing daily lesson logs
“We have received many reports that in many schools, the DLLs cause additional yet unnecessary hardship to teachers, and worse, without additional compensation,” the group said, after commending Briones.
However, DepEd said Briones did not order the recall of the DLL or has made any official statement.
READ: No more lesson logs? Not true
ACT later said that their information was based on a radio report and that, given DepEd’s correction, it will continue to ask that the policy be stopped.
“We hope that Secretary Briones will consider the complaints and grievances of our teachers,” it said.
DepEd, on the other hand, said in a statement, “While the DepEd recognizes the concerns raised by ACT and TDC (Teachers’ Dignity Coalition) regarding the clerical tasks of its teaching personnel, it also affirms its commitment to taking care of the welfare of its teachers.”
It said DepEd Order 42, s. 2016 or the Policy Guidelines on Daily Lesson Preparation for the K to 12 Basic Education Program was crafted to help teachers “deliver quality instruction based on the principle of sound instruction planning.”
It also added that the new guideline has reduced the number of years that teachers are required to prepare a detailed lesson plan—from two years to only one year.
“The DepEd understands that part of the concerns of teachers regarding the DLL is its new format. In this regard, the DepEd wishes to assure teachers and the public that the new DLL format was created with the best interests of teachers in mind,” the agency said.
It argued that the DLL is a tool to help teachers budget time and choose appropriate activities and assessment strategies.
“Research has shown that a common trait that effective teachers share is planning, preparing for, and reflecting on their teaching,” it said.
Dialogue
DepEd also said that while Briones wants to make it clear that she has not made a decision to recall the policy, “She is open to a discussion of it.”
“She also commits to consultation with all parties concerned—from within the DepEd and other stakeholders—before any policy determination is made,” it said.
For its part, ACT said it will continue to challenge DepEd to abolish the scheme. RAM