DepED-NCR disputes social media post alleging students sat on floor due to chair shortage
Photo credit: Jane Bautista of the Philippine Daily Inquirer
The Division of City Schools (DCS) – Manila of the Department of Education (DepEd) has dismissed as “fake news” a social media post which alleged that Grade 7 students of Jose Abad Santos High School were made to sit on the floor due to shortage of chairs in the classroom.
On Monday, Philippine Daily Inquirer (PDI) reporter tweeted photos and a video of students sitting on the floor for their in-person classes “due to the shortage of armchairs.”
In response, DCS-Manila issued an official statement denouncing the post as “malicious and fabricated purposely to malign the teachers and school officials of Jose Abad Santos High School.”
The statement furthered stated that upon being asked to verify the post’s claim, the subject teacher explained that she had deliberately arranged the chairs to suit group activity for orientation and psychosocial support tasks. It also claimed that the social media post was not authorized nor consented.
Bautista and PDI have said they stand by their post.
