Pia on DepEd memo: Encourage 'creative' learning on weekends

Senator Pia S. Cayetano is suggesting a compromise to resolve the controversy over the Department of Education's (DepEd) Memorandum No.392 which advises public school teachers not to give their pupils homework during weekends.

Two weekends have passed since the Department of Education (DepEd) issued the controversial memorandum on September 16. The new policy immediately got mixed reactions from educators, with some teachers obeying and others reportedly defying it.

"One possible middle ground is to encourage 'light' and 'creative' home assignments on weekends. This could include lessons on the arts and music and other projects that kids can enjoy doing with their parents and siblings at home," said Cayetano, Chairperson of the Senate Committee on Youth, Women and Family Relations.

"On the other hand, academic-heavy assignments can just be limited from Mondays to Thursdays. This way, the students will get to develop their creative side, hone their skills on music and the arts, even as they continue to learn and enjoy their weekends and bond with their parents at the same time."

"Of course, the classroom teacher is in the best position to decide the most appropriate teaching methods for their students, calibrating how to use each method according to their cognitive skills and learning capacities. But I don't think Memorandum No.392 is meant to curtail the authority and academic freedom of teachers."

"As the Department of Education itself clarifies, the memorandum is recommendatory and only meant as a reminder to educators of the value of balancing time between study, play, and family time, especially for grade school pupils."

"Teachers' groups critical of the memorandum also have a point in cautioning that without homework to do on weekends, students might end up bumming or forgetting their lessons altogether."