Group bucks ‘red-tagging’ seminars in schools
THE Alliance of Concerned Teachers-Philippines (ACT) rebuked the memorandum of agreement (MOA) between the Department of Education (DepEd) Aurora Division and the 91st Infantry Battalion (IB) of the Philippine Army on allowing soldiers to conduct “red-tagging seminars” among Grade 9, 10, and senior high school (SHS) students in the school division.
Earlier, DepEd said the pact would “provide information and education to the youth about local armed conflict is a critical step to keep them from being deceived and recruited by terrorists and communists.”
According to Vladimir Quetua, ACT chairperson, the DepEd is “contradicting” its policy of banning extra-curricular activities with this initiative.
At the same time, it puts into “question” the priorities of the education department, said Quetua.
“They prohibit other activities that can help learners’ holistic development, purportedly to give focus on bridging learning gaps, but it will allow soldiers to ‘disrupt’ classes for their red-tagging agenda,” said Quetua.
“Andami-daming problema ng mga eskuwelahan sa pagbubukas ng mga klase. Higit isang linggo na kaming pumapasok pero wala pa kaming naririnig na solusyon ng DepEd sa mga problema namin sa kulang na klasrum, guro, kawani, silya, at kawalan ng malinaw na plano kung paano ibabangon ang edukasyon. Pero sa red-tagging, mabilis sila mapagpasya,” said Quetua.
“We have attended many and know well what those counter-insurgency seminars contain. They are shamelessly red-tagging and smearing legal and legitimate organizations, including our unions duly registered and operating in accordance with the pertinent laws,” explained Quetua.
He further said combatants have no place in schools which are supposed to be “zones of peace and safe spaces for learning”.
He said that “these supposed counter-insurgency seminars can only sow fear among our learners and teach them that dissent is wrong when in fact, it is ‘essential’ in a democratic society.”
“Walang-saysay at pampagulo lang ang mga red-tagging seminar na ito sistema ng edukasyon natin na lubog na nga ngayon sa krisis. Sana ay unahing asikasuhin at pagtuunan ng pansin ng pamahalaan ang mga problemang balakid ngayon sa pagbangon ng edukasyon,” ended Quetua.
