Teachers’ group demands action from DepEd on requiring teachers to report physically after one teacher tests positive for COVID-19

A group of teachers’ demands for accountability from DepEd after a teacher-tested positive for COVID-19 while reporting physically in school. DepEd has failed to implement the proper policy on the work arrangement amid the pandemic, according to them.

We demand the DepEd management to take appropriate actions on the reported cases of field officials requiring their teachers to report physically to schools,” the Teachers’ Dignity Coalition (TDC) expressed after one of its leaders has tested positive for COVID-19.

Ildefonso “Nono” Enguerra III, the president of TDC-NCR Teachers’ Union (TDC-NCRTU), which is the TDC’s regional chapter in Metro Manila, tested positive for COVID-19 according to test results he received on July 28.

Enguerra is one of the teachers at Manuel Roxas High School in Paco, Manila.

He stated that last July 14, some 30 teachers of the school were asked to report physically for the accomplishment of the Individual Performance Commitment and Review Form (IPCRF) and to prepare them for Google Classroom.

After some days, Enguerra felt symptoms of the disease including fever, cough, sore throat and loss of smell and appetite.

Now, he was in strict home quarantine in Marilao, Bulacan since then and underwent a swab test on July 22.

“The school is now on lockdown until August 3 for disinfection,” the group said.

Based on the department guideline under DepEd Order No. 11, s. 2020 – “physical reporting should only be rendered after a consultation with concerned personnel and only upon the authorization of the Regional Director.”

TDC stressed out that the work from home scheme should be the default work arrangement.

TDC is asking DepEd to clearly “prohibit physical reporting to schools for tasks that are not essential and can be done remotely” and “postpone the on-going accomplishment of the IPCRF, releasing of report cards and retrieval of books.”