DepEd asked to help teachers infected with COVID-19

The Department of Education (DepEd) should provide financial assistance to teachers infected with COVID-19 since many of them contracted the disease due to work, a group of educators said Sunday.

The DepEd should also police its own ranks and release information on COVID-19 infections among teachers, school workers, and its own personnel, the Teachers’ Dignity Coalition (TDC) said.

“Some of these reported or even confirmed cases were attributed to the teachers’ physical reporting in their workplace. How can we convince the public that the system is ready for August 24 opening, when in fact, many of our teachers fear the possible contagion?” TDC National chairman Benjo Basas said in a statement.

“We need the same data from the DepEd, because it will help us to analyze the situation and to properly respond to it,” he added.

The TDC earlier said it has received reports that some teachers contracted COVID-19 while they were physically reporting for work in schools. The group, however, did not release a tally as to how many teachers were infected.

The DepEd also has no tally on teachers and school workers infected with COVID-19.

 DepEd Secretary Leonor Briones, according to TDC, should respond to teachers’ queries on whether the department would provide any aid to those who will contract the dreaded virus.

The TDC earlier confirmed that their regional president for Metro Manila, Nono Enguerra, a teacher in Manila was tested positive for the dreaded virus along with four other colleagues after they attended a face-to-face meeting called by school authorities.

READ: DepEd told to strictly implement work-from-home policy during MECQ

Enguerra is now in isolation but said that he is recovering from the disease.