Most schools in Metro Manila have a’ weak’ internet connection to service teachers conducting online classes.
According to the survey done by the Alliance of Concerned – National Capital Region (ACT-NCR) Union, 87.6 percent or 8,106 of the 9,254 teachers answered ”no” when inquired as to whether their school internet connection can support all teachers who will lead synchronous online classes.
The problem of weak internet connection in schools was raised by ACT in light of the Memorandum 29 series of 2022 implemented by the Department of Education that requires all faculty in Alert Level 1 regions to resume on-site work.
In an interview with ABS-CBN, Ruby Ana Bernardo, a teacher and member of Quezon City Public School Teachers Association said that they faced various problems on day one of being back in schools.
”Ang dami naging problema. Mahina ‘yong signal ng isang building na pinrovide sa’min sana for online class”
Teacher Ruby Ana Bernardo
Some of the teachers opted to work along the corridors to get better internet signal and while others used mobile hotspots which is still not enough, Bernardo said.
Bernado calls for immediate action about the issue as she explained that the learning process of the children is at stake.
ACT NCR Union President Vladimer Quetua said that in other situations teachers were given data allowance to be used for online classes by their corresponding local government.
Although, ACT got reports of “dead spots” inside the school which resulted in teachers synchronously conducting their online classes to gather in a small area with sufficient cellular reception.
“Some of our teachers reported to have had to resort to asynchronous digital classes instead of holding online synchronous classes to consume lower internet bandwidths, which was all their school internet can handle,” said Quetua.
“This is what we mean when we say that the blanket DepEd memo will have counterproductive impacts on the already challenging education delivery amid the pandemic,”
ACT NCR Union President Vladimer Quetua
Though DepEd is pushing for the expansion of face-to-face classes, distance learning continues to be this school year’s standard learning modality because of COVID19.
The survey teacher-respondents of ACT also called to the attention their well-being amid the ongoing pandemic and issues with transportation.
Source: ABS-CBN News, Manilla Bulletin