THE ALLIANCE of Concerned Instructors slammed the Department of Education for urging teachers to solicit donations via its Brigada Eskwela.
“Hindi na nahiya ang pamahalaan, ginagamit pa ang mga guro sa panghihingi ng donasyon, samantalang hindi pinopondohan nang sapat ang edukasyon at kuwestiyonable pa ang ginawang paggastos sa pondo sa distance learning,” Vladimer Quetua, the group’s chairperson, said, “Hindi na nahiya ang pamahalaan, ginagamit pa ang mga guro sa panghihingi ng donasyon, samantalang hindi pinopondohan nang sapat ang edukasyon at kuwestiyonable pa ang ginawang paggastos sa pondo sa distance learning.”
Furthermore, he said, “Ginagamit lamang ng DepEd ang diwa ng bayanihan para mapunuan ang mga kakulangan ng pamahalaan, sukdulang gawing kompetisyon ang paramihan ng naso-solicit. Kadalasan din ay palaging abonado si teacher para mapaganda o maayos ang silid-aralan.”
The group mentioned that the Commission on Audit had raised concerns about the Department of Education’s “deficiencies” in the use of P4.527 billion in funds earmarked for the Basic Education Learning Continuity Plan, also known as the distance learning program, for the 2020–2021 and 2021–2022 academic years.
Although the DepEd had stated that teachers’ out-of-pocket expenses should be covered, according to Quetua, the process is challenging due to the many requirements.
“At any rate even if they were reimbursed the teachers were made to shell out money in the first place. Money that is very dear considering that they have very low salaries and the Marcos administration said that they will not give a salary increase for teachers,” he stated.
Additionally, he said, “Dapat may nakahandang sapat na pondo para sa Brigada Eskwela, batay sa identified needs ng bawat eskwelahan para maihanda ang mga classroom at schools sa school opening. Nakakalungkot na habang 4.5 bilyong piso ang di maayos na ginastos ng Deped na para sana sa mga eskwelahan at mga guro ay inoobliga naman ang mga guro na mangalap ng pera para sa Brigada Eskwela na sagot dapat ng pamahalaan.”
Quetua brought up the P2.4 billion budget for teacher laptop purchases, which COA had highlighted as having “very expensive” laptops given their characteristics, which significantly reduced the number of laptops that were ultimately purchased.
“Masakit sa dibdib ng mga guro na habang nangungutang sila para makabili ng laptop ay maanomalya ang paggamit ng pondo para dito. Dapat magkaroon ng mas malalim na imbestigasyon rito at panagutin ang mga salarin sa pagka-aksya at posibleng kumita sa transaksyong ito,” he said.
