PB summons DepEd to explain readiness

CEBU, Philippines —  The Cebu Provincial Board (PB) has invited Department of Education (DepEd)-7 Director Salustiano Jimenez to discuss the readiness and challenges in the implementation of modular learning,

Third District Board Member John Ismael Borgonia has filed a resolution inviting Jimenez or his representative to present facts and data regarding the implementation of distance learning and the sufficiency of funds for the modular learning resources that will enable public school teachers to better address the new learning style and respond to the educational needs of the students.

Borgonia said this is in response to the complaint of many teachers that they can no longer sustain the cost for the printing of self-learning modules.

“Considering that the printing of materials would involve considerable amount of money, the Province of Cebu recognizes the fact that government should not burden our public school teachers in the cost of producing self-learning modules which will certainly redound to the benefit of all students,” read Borgonia’s resolution.

Aside from the regional director, Borgonia also sent an invitation letter to Cebu Provincial School Division Superintendent Marilyn Andales to appear before the PB session on November 9.

In his resolution, Borgonia also cited that the Alliance of Concerned Teachers (ACT) alleged that with the schools’ Maintenance and Other Operating Expenses (MOEE) almost depleted, schools resort to soliciting private donations and maximizing teachers’ personal printers just to jumpstart the reproduction of modules.

ACT is the largest non-traditional teacher’s organization in the country which works for the economic and political well-being of teachers and all other education workers as well as for genuine social transformation in the Philippines.

He mentioned that there is a school which he did not identify, that has an MOOE of P70,000 only but has already spent more than P100,000.

“Maminaw ta nilang (DepEd) Secretary Briones sa TV, mura man og way problema. Pero ari sa ground, grabe man og problema atong mga teachers. They’re spending their own personal money. Dili pa-kolektahon sa ginikanan, pero ang ginikanan willingly mo-volunteer nalang kay patabang sila or mo-solicit jud ang teachers ngari nato mga politiko ug uban pa kay di naman ka sustain,” said Borgonia.

“We come from a family of teachers man gud, so daghan ko’g mga uyuan, iyaan, ig-agaw nga mga principal or teachers, so makita gyud nako nila. Ug pag councilor nako sa Balamban, committee on education man akong gikoptan, so basically, I know gyud unsa ilang predicament sa ground, nga dili sila openly ka solicit unya kay wa namay funds. In fact, ang paghatod nila, abang pa sila og sikad, abang pa sila og tricycle para maghatod sa mga modules, unya printer ug bondpaper,” he added. — GAN (FREEMAN)