Teachers need DepEd laptops

Retrieving the laptops distributed to teachers for distance learning will be an “additional problem” for educators since they will lose the devices they are using to prepare lectures, reports and online tasks, the Alliance of Concerned said.

ACT earlier reported that laptops were being retrieved from public school teachers in Zamboanga del Sur, Camarines Norte, Quezon City, Malabon City, and Cebu City.

“The DepEd can’t even provide sufficient and functional laptops, now they’re reclaiming the devices that the teachers are using,” said ACT chair Vladimer Quetua.

“What they should be working on is filling up their backlogs in laptop provision to teachers and not increasing further the number of teachers who [have] no laptop to use,” Quetua said.

DepEd spokesperson Michael Poa earlier denied the reports of laptop retrieval.

Poa later on clarified that the laptops had to be returned to their respective schools as full in-person classes had already resumed.

Jenilyn Corpuz, Quezon City schools division superintendent, said that the teachers had to return the gadgets because these were just “borrowed” from the schools.

On Sept. 12, Corpuz issued Division Memorandum No. 596 directing “all desktop computers, laptops, tablet PCs and smartphones, which the school heads lent to the school teachers shall also be returned to the school custodian.”

Quetua was dismayed over the move to recall the laptop by DepEd.

“When will the Department of Education understand that it is the agency’s responsibility as the employer to provide each of its teachers with the necessary equipment for them to be able to perform their duties?” he added.