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Delay school opening by 1 week in typhoon-hit areas — teachers' group

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ABS-CBN News

<div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:950px"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/172213420346620240727-carina-habagat-aftermath-marikina-MT-15.jpg" style="width:950px" class="fr-fic fr-dib"/><span class="fr-inner" spellcheck="false" style="text-align:left">Personnel from the Marikina Settlements Office-Homesite use pay-loaders to clean the stretch of Kabayani Road in Marikina on Saturday, July 27, as debris and trash still litter the streets days after the devastating floods brought by torrential rain of super typhoon Carina and the enhanced habagat. <em>Maria Tan, ABS-CBN News</em></span></span></span>MANILA — A teachers&#x27; group on Sunday urged the Department of Education (DepEd) to delay the start of classes — <a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/2024/5/22/marcos-jr-deped-approve-july-29-opening-of-classes-for-sy-2024-2025-1120">originally set for July 29</a> — by a week in areas hit by the recent massive flooding and heavy rains, saying it was not just the schools that needed preparation.</div><p>The Teachers&#x27; Dignity Coalition in a statement said postponing the class opening in typhoon-stricken areas in Metro Manila and neighboring provinces will &quot;give their citizens, parents, students, and even teachers more time to prepare for the school year.&quot;</p><p>&quot;Hindi naman po ang kahandaan lamang ng paaralan ang kailangang ikunsidera, kundi lalo pa ang kahandaang pisikal, sikolohikal at pinansiyal din ng mga magulang, mga bata at maging ng mga guro,&quot; Benjo Basas, the group&#x27;s national chairperson, said in the statement.</p><p>(We shouldn&#x27;t just be looking at how ready the schools are but also physical, psychological and financial readiness of the parents, students and teachers)</p><p>He said that many families were affecred by the flooding brought by the southwest monsoon or habagat, which was enhanced by Typhoon Carina.</p><p>&quot;Ilan sa kanila ang nawalan ng tahanan o nasira ang mga kagamitan, ang iba pa nga ay nawalan ng mga mahal sa buhay,&quot; he added.</p><p>(Some of them lost their homes and school supplies, others even lost loved ones)</p><p>Basas also urged the DepEd to directly consult teachers and parents on the class opening, saying that some school officials&#x27; assessments of the typhoon&#x27;s aftermath might not be accurate.</p><p>DepEd on Saturday said <a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/2024/7/27/deped-1-215-public-schools-to-delay-opening-in-habagat-carina-aftermath-1845">more than 1,200 public schools nationwide will postpone their opening</a> on Monday for clean-up and rehabilitation following the monsoon floods. </p><p>The affected areas include Metro Manila, Ilocos Region, Central Luzon, South Cotabato, Sultan Kudarat, and General Santos City.</p><p><span></span>The DepEd said most classes will still open on Monday in areas affected by the typhoon, although local governments have the power to delay classes.</p><p>President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. ordered that class opening on July 29 should push through as much as possible.</p><div><strong>LACK OF FACILITIES</strong></div><div><ivs-player data-ivs-key="e8c22c015ca9eafa76f1e3edfa03c603" data-ivs-spid="3001339" data-ivs-vid="3064136"></ivs-player></div><script src="https://player.ivideosmart.com/ivsplayer/v4/dist/js/loader.js"></script><p>Speaking on Teleradyo Serbisyo, Alliance of Concerned Teachers — National Capital Region Vice President Wilhelmina Vibar said that many schools are still struggling with classroom shortages, with some rooms being splitso two classes can be held there simultaneously.</p><p>She also said that a suggestion to hold classes outdoors if classrooms are unusable is unacceptable.</p><p>&quot;Hindi po katanggap-tanggap, noong una pa lang ay hindi na katanggap-tanggap,&quot; she said, referring to times in the past when classes had to be held under trees because of a lack of rooms.</p><p>(That is unacceprable, even before, that has been unacceptable)</p><p>She said that this would only let schools &quot;technically&quot; hold classes but that students might not learn much.</p><p>&quot;Ang klase ko ay anim o pito, paano po ang gagawin?&quot; Vibar, who teaches in Malabon, said.</p><p>&quot;Isipin na lang natin paano natin ilalabas ang mga silya, mesa, at pisara,&quot; she said.</p><p>(I handle six, seven classes, how will we do that? Just imagine how we will bring the desks and chairs and blackboards outdoors)</p><p>Vibar said the long-term solution to the lack of classrooms is for government to allocate more funding for school facilities as well as for more teachers and staff.</p><div><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/2024/7/27/deped-1-215-public-schools-to-delay-opening-in-habagat-carina-aftermath-1845" id="isPasted">READ: DepEd: 1,215 public schools to delay opening in habagat, Carina aftermath</a></div><div><strong>RELATED VIDEO:</strong></div><div><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/AOgcLRbLptM?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span><br/></div>

<p>A teachers' group on Sunday urged the Department of Education to delay the school opening — <a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/2024/5/22/marcos-jr-deped-approve-july-29-opening-of-classes-for-sy-2024-2025-1120">originally set for July 29</a> — by a week in areas hit by the recent massive flooding and heavy rains, saying it was not just the schools that needed preparation.</p>

A teachers' group on Sunday urged the Department of Education to delay the school opening — originally set for July 29 — by a week in areas hit by the recent massive flooding and heavy rains, saying it was not just the schools that needed preparation.