ILOILO City – Cheating, in any form, must not be tolerated, warned the Department of Education (DepEd) in Region 6.
More than half a million children across the Philippines were alleged to have joined the now defunct Facebook group “Online Kopyahan” wherein students reportedly share answer keys and “leaks” from learning activities and exams.
“Gina-condemn kag waay gid naton gina-tolerate ang online cheating,” said Hernani Escullar Jr., information officer of DepEd-6.
The group disappeared after it went viral last week. It reached the attention of DepEd-central office and now being investigated by the Philippine National Police (PNP).
Academic dishonesty promotes “pagkatamad,” said Escullar.
When a student cheats, he/she is not learning skills and lessons, he stressed.
According Escullar, no learners in the region were found to have joined the group.
There’s no monitored organized group in Western Visayas whose modus operandi is similar to online cheating either, said Escullar.
“Kon nabudlayan, magpangayo bulig sa teacher and principal kon paano magsabat sang module,” he said.
Parents are also enjoined to be responsible.
DepEd-6 has no control over children when they are at home, according to Escullar.
“That’s why gina-enganyo naton ang aton ginikanan paagi sa SDOs (Schools Division Offices) nga i-monitor gid ang kabataan,” said Escullar.
“It is going to be synergy between DepEd and parents kon sa diin ang parents amo ang maserbe nga police sa pagbantay,” he added.
DepEd-6 also encouraged parents to report to the teacher, principal, DepEd-6 or law enforcement authorities should they encounter an online group promoting/engaging in cheating.
DepEd-6 director, Dr. Ramir Uytico directed SDOs to enforce measures to combat cheating among learners.
He advised the teachers to:
* monitor the recent activities of learners and warn them against membership in any cheating platform;
* encourage learners and parents to sign a contract against dishonesty;
* conduct orientation with parents to make them aware of the Facebook pages that promote cheating;
* initiate support groups of parents to ensure they instill the value of honesty and integrity in their children;
* seek out opportunities to teach academic integrity among learners and discourage them from feeding on laziness and instant gratification; and
* coordinate with local authorities to assist in the campaign against online cheating.
As of Sept. 18, data from DepEd-6 showed 2,212,465 learners enrolled in the region – 2,069,410 in public schools, private (141,270), and state universities and colleges (1,785).
The number of enrollees this school year is higher compared to that in the previous school year which only exceeded 2.1 million./PN