DepEd ‘skeleton’ workers to be identified

The Department of Education (DepEd) has directed its supervising executive committee and regional directors to issue a memorandum identifying the names of personnel who will be required to physically report to schools.

In a memoradum Thursday, the DepEd said the agency and schools shall operate with minimal skeleton workforce to provide essential services, while the rest of the personnel shall be on work-from-home arrangement.

The education department also reminded heads of offices to ensure that the workplace is compliant with the safety and health precautions against COVID-19.

Meanwhile, the Teachers’ Dignity Coalition (TDC) asked DepEd to move the schedule of opening of classes following reports that some public school teachers have contracted COVID-19 while doing tasks in schools.

“We already have teachers who tested positive to Covid19 after doing tasks in schools while our learning modules remain unrealized,” said Benjo Basas, the group’s national chairman.

“This should compel the good secretary (Leonor Briones) to move school opening to a much later date, especially given that the re-imposed MECQ (modified enhanced community quarantine) extends to 18 August, hampering even more the needed preparations,” Basas added.

The TDC earlier demanded for accountability of DepEd officials over alleged failure to implement its own policy on work arrangement of teachers.

The group has also asked the DepEd management to take appropriate actions on the reported cases of field officials requiring their teachers to report physically to schools.

According to the DepEd Order No. 11, physical reporting should only be rendered after a consultation with concerned personnel and only upon the authorization of the regional director.

The TDC also asked the education department to prioritize the training of teachers and orientation of parents as it prepares the whole system for school year 2020-2021.

“DepEd could conduct valuable teacher training and parent orientation, as well as work to strengthen technological infrastructure to better respond to this crisis,” Basas said.