The Alliance of Concerned Teachers (ACT) has reported that public school teachers in Quezon City, Zamboanga del Sur, Camarines Norte, Malabon City, and Cebu City are left with no choice but to return the laptops provided by the Department of Education (DepEd).
“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 added.
On the other hand, DepEd spokesperson Michael Poa explained that the return of laptops is accordingly as full in-person classes have already resumed and that these laptops will be used in computer laboratories.
In an interview with GMA News, QC schools division superintendent Dr. Jenilyn Rose Corpuz said these gadgets were only lent to teachers for online classes.
“Gusto ko pong ipaliwanag na noong pandemya po, dahil kailangan ng mga teachers ng ating laptops and use of laboratories, so pinahiram po ‘yung mga ‘yun na ginagamit ng mga bata during the pre-pandemic,” she said.
Moreover, an April 2020 DepEd memorandum, issued by then Education Undersecretary for Administration Alain del Pascua, states that teachers are “required to return the devices upon the resumption of regular classes.”
featured image courtesy of rapplr
