THE Department of Education (DepEd) on Tuesday, October 20, 2020, issued an appeal to stop blaming deaths of some students and teachers by suicide on the difficulties encountered in distance learning and the use of learning modules.
“Nakatanggap na kami ng mga ulat mula sa kinauukulan, maging mga pahayag ng mga pamilya, at mga inisyal na imbestigasyon ng mga kaso at wala sa alinmang insidente ang tumutukoy sa distance learning bilang pangunahing sanhi ng mga ito,” the department said in a statement on Tuesday, October 20, 2020.
(We have received reports about families blaming distance learning for the deaths, but initial investigation showed that distance learning was not the primary cause of these incidents.)
The department warned groups and individuals responsible for making up such stories in order to discredit the government’s efforts to continue education despite the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) pandemic.
The DepEd extended condolences to the bereaved families and assured that they will be given due assistance.
“Ang Kagawaran, ay lubos na nagdadalamhati at nagpapaabot ng pakikiramay sa mga naulila at sa mga minamahal ng ating kasamahan sa DepEd. Kaya naman patuloy na nakikipag-ugnayan ang ating field offices sa mga pamilyang naiwan upang maiparating ang agarang tulong at suporta,” it added.
The department also said it is closely coordinating with the teachers and students who may need assistance in maintaining good mental health.
A distance learning program is being implemented for school year 2020-2021, which opened on October 5, because of the pandemic.
Under this program, learning sessions are either held in real time online or through asynchronous activities with the use of self-learning modules.
President Rodrigo Duterte has prohibited face-to-face sessions until a vaccine against Covid-19 becomes available. (Third Anne Peralta-Malonzo/SunStar Philippines)