By Deighton Acuin

PHOTO: Manila Bulletin

The Department of Education (DepEd) is under fire anew for allegedly “discriminating” nurses as shown in a learning material in social media.

A copy of a material showing illustrations of people with their work description is currently earning a public ire online.

The illustrations were described as:

“Ang karpintero ang gumagawa ng bahay.”

“Ang nars ang katulong o kasama ng doctor.”

“Ang chef ang tagaluto ng masasarap na pagkain.”

While other description seemed to be accurate, the entry describing nurses’ job draws negative netizen’s feedback — as the word “katulong” which, when translated into English, refers to a maid.

Twitter user with handle @ShameOnYouPpl called out DepEd saying that it should pay more attention to its modules: “We are a team sa healthcare at hindi kami katulong.” 

@grapplingcid lamented that “nurses and other members of the health care team deserve all the respect and courtesy.” The user expressed hope that the learning material in question will be corrected by DepEd.

@mateorufuss, who claims to be a nurse, was offended: “Ang dami nyo pwedeng gamitin na salita upang ilarawan ang propesyon namen gaya ng ‘kaagapay, katuwang, kasama’. O kaya naman ang Nars ang tagapag alaga ng may mga sakit. Kawawa yung mga estudyante sa inyo!”

User with handle @Ipe_07 also expressed disappointment, noting: “di na nga maganda ang panananaw ng ibang Pinoy sa nurses tapos ganyan pa nakalagay sa module. Mali ang naituturo sa next generation. Hindi po kami nag-aral ng 4 years at nag board exam para lang maging “katulong.”’

@nognogdiaries, on the other hand said, pointed out: “2021 na, katulong pa rin kaming mga nars sa mga modules ninyo?” while @dyosabellsrn could not help but ask: “May problema ata sa deped noh?”

Amid backlash, the source of the material remains unclear. There is also an unclear indication if it is a part of the module approved by DepEd.

Since the opening of this school year, DepEd has been repeatedly called out in social media for supposedly producing “erroneous” modules which — in many instances — were not approved or used by the agency for public schools.


RELATED ARTICLE: Manila Bulletin

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