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SCHOOLS DIVISION OF CAMARINES NORTE

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DepEd’s new suspension guidelines sparks unrest among VPHS’ SHS students by Leigh Allaga

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TEMPUS INSUFFICIENS. Anghelo E. Octa, a 7th grade student from Vinzons Pilot High School, hesitantly submits his rushed output to his teacher, Jamaica De Leon, leaving the classroom in a hurry. Juaren Odi

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VPHS students, teachers raise concerns against 45-minute classes by Rihanna Ghian Samonte

scitech | 14 pulsepacer Are you in favor of the 45-minute time allotment for the Junior High School class periods? In accordance to the Department of Education (DepEd) implementation of the MATATAG Curriculum, the department required 45-minute time allotment for Junior High School (JHS) class periods during the school year 2024-2025 which aims to adapt into ‘flexible guidelines’ to equalize workload distributions while protecting the welfare of teachers. Results in a survey conducted by The Echo on October 28, 2024 among JHS students of Vinzons Pilot High School (VPHS) reveals that out of 400 respondents, 327 are against the shortened 45-minute class periods. bythenumbers

in every

source: echo stats

disagree with the 45-minute class periods

unior High School (JHS) students and teachers of Vinzons Pilot High School (VPHS) voiced their disagreement to the shortened 45-minute duration for each subject with respect to the teachers’ workload and time management for their six-hour teaching requirement.

According to the Department of Education’s (DepEd) Order (DO) No.12, series of 2024, which provides schools with more flexibility to adapt the MATATAG Curriculum despite problems in staffing and facilities, all learning areas were given 45 minutes each for five days, and Homeroom Guidance Program once a week as it amended the curriculum to “accommodate the different contexts of schools.”

LACKING FOCUS Based on a survey on the VPHS community’s say about the 45-minute classes conducted last October 27, 85.25% of the JHS students in VPHS were surprised, but struggled with the limited time per subject, saying it is not enough for a teacher to facilitate whole lessons and a student to complete an output. Some also said that they were ‘dumped' with several homework and activities. “Hindi enough yung oras para matapos i-discuss ang buong lesson and hindi na nagkakaroon ng oras para sa activities. Madalas, malayo pa ang lalakarin ni teacher from one class to the next,” Pauline Ojeda, Grade 7, pointed out. Another also responded that students work under ‘pressure’ due to the lack of time for concentrating and listening. On the other hand, minorities were in newsbit

75.3% of VPHS freshmen ‘buckle’ under MATATAG curriculum by Samantha Jade Perrera As the first quarter of the MATATAG school year, initiated by the Department of Education (DepEd), concludes, Grade 7 students were interviewed regarding their mental health on October 28, 2024 at Vinzons Pilot High School (VPHS).

The Echo: The Voice of Truth and Honest Service

favor of the shorter allocated time because of earlier dismissals of classes.

HEAVIER LOAD Following it, during an interview last October 28, VPHS teachers spoke out against the order, remarking it is a heavier load and should be reverted to one-hour sessions considering the welfare of both teachers and their students. ESP teacher Leilani Espedido shared how the lessened time affected her students’ learning progress. “I think students can be more productive in an hour compared to 45 minutes because the latter forces them to rush their outputs and they cannot deeply analyze their activities.” she said. Meanwhile, Eduardo Jarqui, a MAPEH teacher, said “Lalong lalo na sa'min kasi kung 45 minutes ang sessions, madadagdagan yung sections na handle namin to comply sa DepEd order na six hours of teaching load.” To cope with this matter, TLE teacher Renan Pioquinto advised that teachers should develop other teaching strategies. CALLING OUT On the other hand, the Alliance of Concerned Teachers (ACT) and Teachers’ Dignity Coalition (TDC) contradicted this and reported that they will seek an urgent

Following the questionnaire, 75.3% of the respondents experienced a negative shift in their routines this school year while the minority noted a change in their mental state due to increased stress. "Honestly, it's not that bad pero at the same time it took me a significant amount of time to fully adjust to the system— parang naging mabigat sa mental health namin

yung MATATAG, marami na sa'min ang may problems sa stress and burnout, tapos parang lalo pang lalala dahil doon," said Hanna Halamani, a freshman. The survey evaluated their mental health following the transition, considering factors such as stress levels, overall satisfaction with the learning environment, and workload pressures, among other things.

dialogue with DepEd Secretary Sonny Angara for the suspension of the MATATAG Curriculum. “Gusto naming magkaroon ng dialogue na i-suspend muna ito (MATATAG curriculum), mag-usap muna po yung mga key stakeholders, lalo na yung mga teachers at students,” ACT-NCR President Ruby Bernardo clarified in an ANC Television Broadcast last August 15. Furthermore, TDC Chairperson, Benjo Basas referred to the program as “impractical” and “illegal” as it tires teachers to meet their load.

“

Hindi enough yung oras para matapos i-discuss ang buong lesson and hindi na nagkakaroon ng oras para sa activities. Madalas, malayo pa ang lalakarin ni teacher from one class to the next.

BRAND NEW ORDEALS. James Lawrence V. Bacurin, a seventh grade student of Vinzons Pilot High School struggles with a mathematics test under the MATATAG Curriculum. Sapphiro Alejandro

Following the recent consecutive class suspensions caused by the back-to-back tropical storms and typhoons that hit the country, the Department of Education (DepEd) has released new guidelines regarding suspension of classes on December 23, 2024, which raised unease within Vinzons Pilot High School’s (VPHS) Senior High School (SHS) community. In DepEd Order No. 22, series of 2024, it was stated that to ensure continuity of learning amid calamities like typhoons, classes for kindergarten to elementary levels in affected areas are suspended at Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal (TCWS) 1; At TWCS 2, face-to-face classes for kindergarten to Junior High School (JHS) levels are suspended, provided elementary to JHS levels are to continue learning through a modular approach; and only at TWCS 3 or above should classes and work for all levels be suspended (in affected areas). Thus, SHS students were asked to answer a short survey regarding their perceived effects of the new guidelines on their lifestyle and learning, where 73% of the respondents claimed that they do not agree with the new guidelines and the remaining minority showing reluctance towards its implementation. According to Hermalonie Abilgos, a Grade 11 STEM student, she does not feel safe with the new guidelines and that rather than taking the risk to go to school amid pouring rains and blowing winds, she would instead be more inclined to continue her schooling through online or modular means. “First, not all students are capable of enduring cold weather for a long time. Some people like me have trouble with their breathing or even worse, asthma. The cold weather will just worsen the immune system and trigger symptoms. Second, students live in different environments. Some places are flood-prone and expecting students to be able to attend their classes with setbacks, will not give the results that the school is aiming for. Lastly, the school should value health over education,” Abilgos added.