MANILA, Philippines – To address learning gaps caused by the pandemic, the Department of Education (DepEd) intends to ban extracurricular activities for school year 2022-2023.

During the opening of classes last August, Vice President and DepEd Secretary Sara Duterte announced that traditional school activities would not push through this school year, telling teachers to focus on academics instead.

“We need to focus on the academics of our students to catch up on the learning losses during the two years that they weren’t able to have in-person classes,” Duterte said in a mix of English and Filipino during a visit to Don Pedro Vasquez Memorial School in Jordan, Guimaras.

She added that DepEd would release a department order stating that only co-curricular and academic activities would be allowed this school year, and that extracurricular activities would be banned.

When asked during a press briefing on Thursday, September 1, what co-curricular and academic activities would be allowed, DepEd spokesperson Michael Poa said the department order, which would specify those activities, was in the works and that it would be released “as soon as possible.”

“Marami ring comments na lumalabas (There are a lot of comments) online about the need for children to have certain activities. Mayroon naman po kasi tayong mga psychosocial support na ginagawa na rin ngayon sa ating mga paaralan (We actually offer psychosocial support in our schools), which is part of our learning recovery plan,” Poa added during the briefing. 

What are the comments online saying?

For many netizens, extracurricular activities are essential for a student’s holistic development. They comment that a student’s learning is not confined within the classroom, and that learnings from extracurricular activities are also valuable.

Many netizens also say that extracurricular activities serve as a reprieve for students from their grueling school work, especially after years of being stuck at home due to the pandemic.

Kids need a break and leisure time for Cultural and human development especially these times after pandemic. Ngayon lang nga sila makakalabas after serie soft quarantine

— Nonna (@NonnaR9) September 1, 2022

Mas kailangan nga ng ECA ngayon kasi ang tagal wala nyan nung online sila.

Iba iba strengths ng bata. Kung nasa arts, or sports, or practical knowledge, bakit pipigilan?

Practical knowledge ang sumagip sa amin nung lockdown

— p’jay #angatbuhay (@pjay_capiral) September 1, 2022

After all the grilling assignments, tests, projects… students need some outlet and that will be in the form of extra curricular activities. Likewise it will hone their social skills, talents, etc. they are not robots .

— 🍀🤗🤗🤗🤗 (@elsiepooh) September 1, 2022

Some point out the “dictatorial” nature of the ban. “We’re not raising robots. We’re raising kids. Human beings,” reminds Twitter user @S4NGKABAKLAAN.

https://twitter.com/S4NGKABAKLAAN/status/1565328179912249344

Bombshell after bombshell.

We said it before and we'll say it again: schools are not worker factories. https://t.co/ZL6AlaK1nb

— The Pisara Tales (@ThePisaraTales) September 1, 2022

Yet they’re pushing for mandatory ROTC when ECA will more likely incite the discipline they’re aiming for. Tanga lang, DepEd? https://t.co/mcKR0MyqtF

— drewwww (@tannotthecolor) September 2, 2022

Meanwhile, some call on the department to reconsider its priorities, asking them to focus instead on other issues, such as classroom shortage, academic load, and the alleged overpriced laptops for teachers.

The Alliance of Concerned Teachers (ACT) has warned that banning extracurricular activities may lead to burnout for students and teachers alike.

In their statement, ACT pointed out DepEd’s “fixation with achieving the too cumbersome competency list of the K-12 curriculum and the narrow framework that loss in learning can be recovered through more intensive and greater hours of academic study.”

“The DepEd should think outside of the K-12 box to jumpstart education recovery. It should outline the most basic and essential learning objectives that the coming school year can focus on and realistically achieve. It should consider the work-life balance of both learners and teachers so that more effective and relevant learning can happen,” the group added. – Rappler.com