DepEd urged to continue work-from-home scheme

MANILA, Philippines — The Teachers’ Dignity Coalition (TDC) has urged the Department of Education (DepEd) to extend the work-from-home setup for teachers, arguing that requiring them to physically report in schools is unnecessary, impractical and risky.

“As we have earlier said, all the tasks required from us during this period may be done at home and there is no need for physical reporting,” TDC secretary general Emmalyn Policarpio said. “The DepEd has to prove that the system is ready for the distance learning modality and if they require the teachers to report physically to render tasks that can be done distantly, it defeats the idea of virtual readiness.”

DepEd last week issued its guidelines on the alternative work arrangements that would be implemented starting tomorrow.

It outlines options such as work-from-home, skeleton workforce or rotation of employees that offices and schools may adopt amid the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic.

“Heads of offices shall ensure appropriate workplace conditions for the optimal productivity and safety of the personnel, and ensure smooth transition of work operations and work arrangements in case of changes in community quarantine classifications,” read the guidelines.

It stressed the need to implement the required health standards at all times, such as by utilizing videoconferencing technology whenever applicable to minimize face-to-face interaction.

Measures to ensure safe return to work would also be implemented, including disinfection and decontamination of building facilities, conduct of regular health status checks and modification of workplace layout to ensure physical distancing.

Health and psychosocial support interventions would also be provided to personnel.

According to Policarpio, several school heads and field officials have cancelled the order requiring teachers to physically report for work on Monday pending final instruction from DepEd.

“We appreciate such gestures from school heads and some field officials. We, however, call on the DepEd Central Office to respond to our formal query and appeal,” she said.

“Again, we call on Secretary Leonor Briones to order the field offices of DepEd from regions to schools to halt teachers’ reporting on Monday and extend the work-from-home arrangement until physical reporting is necessary and possible,” added the TDC official.