On the other side, homework helps sharpen the learning process of children.

In the end, children’s education—whether

inside or outside the school—cannot be measured alone by their ability to finish assignments. Teachers help mold the
children, but their basic physical, educational and spiritual formation rest exclusively with their parents.

DepEd supports proposed no-homework policy

The proposed bills will help students 'find balance between their academic development and personal growth' and
spend time with their families, says the education department MANILA, Philippines – The Department of Education
(DepEd) has expressed its support for the no-homework policy bills proposed by lawmakers at the House of
Representatives. DepEd, in a statement released on Wednesday, August 28, said the measures would “enable learners
to have more quality time with their parents, family, and friends by limiting the homework [and] assignment to a
reasonable quantity on school days and by eliminating the same during weekends.”It said the policy would allow
students to “find balance between their academic development and personal growth by having ample time for
enjoyable activities with family.”House Deputy Speaker Evelina Escudero and Quezon City Representative Alfred Vargas
filed separate bills in August.Escudero filed House Bill (HB) No. 3611, which seeks to remove homework as a
requirement and have Kinder to Grade 12 students do academic activities solely within school premises.“Homework
assignments can deprive students and parents [of] precious quality time for rest, relaxation, and interaction after
schools hours and even on weekend,” the bill’s explanatory note reads. The bill also seeks to prohibit students from
taking textbooks home in order to “lighten the physical burden of schoolchildren,” who, Escudero said, often have to
carry heavy bags due to schoolwork that has to be done beyond the school. This will apply to Kinder to Grade 6
students.Vargas filed HB No. 3883, which seeks to eliminate homework on weekends for all elementary and high school
students.This is so that students can “enjoy their free time from the precisions of school during weekends and to be able
to have a quality time with their family and friends.”Vargas, in his proposal, also cited a 2018 study that featured
discussions on a similar policy in a public school in Western Cape province in South Africa. Vargas said scholars in South
Africa had argued “that homework is a burden for children and parents,” has caused the decline of family time, and even
undermines learning interest.HB 3883 seeks to “promote and protect the physical, moral, spiritual, intellectual, and
social well-being of the youth.”While DepEd welcomed the proposals, teachers groups have slammed the proposed
measures.The Alliance of Concerned Teachers (ACT) in a statement told Congress to instead focus on reviewing the K to
12 curriculum.“We are not issuing homework to burden our students. It is demanded of us by the K to 12 program, so
much [so] that our performance evaluation system ensures its implementation,” said ACT national chairperson Joselyn
Martinez.Teacher’s Dignity Coalition said: “Our teachers are trained educators. We know the value of homework. It's
about discipline, responsibility, and continuity of learning.” – Rappler.com

WE do not agree with the position of the Department of Education (DepEd) that a “no homework” policy, prohibiting
teachers from assigning academic work to be completed by students outside of regular school hours, is beneficial to
Filipino students.Education Secretary Leonor Briones recently engaged in a public pitch for the policy, which is now the
subject of a couple of pending bills in Congress. We have a great deal of respect for Secretary Briones’ knowledge and
experience as an educator, and her arguments in favor of the policy should be given careful consideration. Doing just
that, however, leads to the conclusion that a solution other than what she and supportive legislators are proposing is in
order.The arguments for a “no homework” policy ostensibly take into account the welfare of students, their families and
teachers. Excessive homework — or to state the argument more accurately, any homework at all — is physically taxing
on students, many of them very young, after they have already spent a full strenuous day in the classroom. Projects that
students are expected to complete at home often pose a burdensome expense on parents, who may not have a ready
budget for the last-minute purchase of needed materials. Assigning homework also adds to the workload of teachers,
who must grade these assignments in addition to their everyday work of preparing lessons.By banning homework, all
these problems are avoided. Students are afforded proper time for rest and relaxation, and families are spared the
burden of unforeseen expenses, or time spent shopping for required materials that may be difficult to find on short
notice. Teachers are also spared the extra time and effort to check homework assignments, and can devote more time
to classroom preparation and work. Secretary Briones has also suggested the policy would be beneficial in allowing more
time for children and parents to bond socially.Those are all very reasonable considerations. Unfortunately, they
completely overlook the trade-offs that may be more harmful in the long run by eroding the quality of education, and as
a consequence, the future competitiveness of young Filipinos.