JORDAN, Guimaras — Vice President and Education Secretary Sara Duterte on Thursday reminded teachers to focus on teaching academics to keep up with the learning losses brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic.

“Nandito kami para kumustahin kayo sa pagbubukas ng ating mga classes at iremind kayo na kailangan nakatutok tayo sa academics ng ating mga estudyante to catch up on the learning losses during the two years na hindi sila nakapag-in-person classes dahil meron talagang kaibahan ang pure online na klase at yung merong in person classes para sa ating mga learners,” Secretary Duterte said during her visit at the Don Pedro Vasquez Memorial School on Thursday.

Duterte also said some traditional school activities will not push through this year as DepEd’s direction is to prioritize the academic development of the students.

“Ngayong taon po wala tayong Palarong Pambansa pero sa susunod na taon gumagawa sila ng draft proposal para sa Palarong Pambansa,” she said.

“Meron tayong ilalabas na department order na nagsasabing dapat co-curricular at academic activities lang ang gagawin this school year. So ang mga extra-curricular activities ay ipinagbabawal po natin,” she added.

The still-to-be-released department order, Duterte said, will specify standards of school activities allowed for this school year.

“Nilagay na po namin doon ang listahan paano tayo mag-identify ng extra curricular at kung paano tayo mag-identify ng co-curricular,” Duterte said.

The Don Pedro Vasquez Memorial School has 11 teachers and 293 students. Insufficient number of classrooms is also one of the major challenges of the school to accommodate their students.

Duterte said that since the construction of classrooms is devolved to the local government units, DepEd is only permitted by the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) to construct school buildings in 5th and 6th class municipalities, the last mile schools, and those belonging to the Geographically Isolated and Disadvantaged Areas (GIDA). She, however, said the department has been communicating with the DBM to allow DepEd implement school constructions.

“Sinabi naman po namin sa kanila, naka-ilang sulat na po si Sec. Briones. Sumulat na rin po ako sa kanila, iniulit ang position ng Department of Education na ‘wag i-devolve ang constructions ng school building program sa ating mga LGUs dahil hindi pare-rareho ang kapasidad ng mg LGUs at hindi binigyan ng mandato ang mga LGUs na yung matatanggap nila na pera ay dapat ipagawa nila ng school buildings,” she explained.

“Patuloy naming kinakausap ang DBM at patuloy kaming nagre-request sa Office of the President na i-exclude ang school building program sa pagbigay nito sa mga LGUs para nandito pa rin sa Department of Education ang mga pagpapagawa ng classrooms sa lahat ng LGUs natin,” she added.

Duterte also shared some good news to the teachers, like the creation of additional positions in the organization for the promotion of teachers and the non-monetary incentives being studied to provide more support to the teaching force as recommended by the Department of Labor and Employment. 

OVP MEDIA