Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, July 24) — A number of groups and a few universities expressed support for the opening of classes in August through blended learning with safety measures.
“The sooner we bring back the Filipino youth to school, the sooner we can start rebuilding for a stronger Philippines, post-pandemic,” according to a joint statement of the Philippine Business for Education, Makati Business Club, IT&Business Process Association of the Philippines, Management Association of the Philippines, Action for Economic Reforms, Unicef, Ateneo De Manila University, De La Salle Philippines, Catholic Educational Association of the Philippines, Philippine Normal University and the Knowledge Channel Foundation.
They said face-to-face learning with health protocols should be implemented in poor communities and low-risk areas.
“[If] planned and resourced well, we can safely manage those risks and ensure that we do not erase the almost universal access to basic education,” the statement read.
The Department of Education reported that over 21 million students have enrolled for school year 2020-2021 with classes slated to begin on August 24. President Rodrigo Duterte recently approved resuming limited face-to-face classes in areas with low-risk of COVID-19 transmission.
