Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, July 14) — The Department of Education revived its proposal to try out face-to-face classes as it anticipates the vaccination of teachers and students against COVID-19.
Education Secretary Leonor Briones said she is hoping President Rodrigo Duterte will consider this time her request to pilot face-to-face classes in select areas in August, in time for the new school year.
“Binigyan tayo ng assurance ni (Vaccine czar) Secretary (Carlito) Galvez na susubukan nila na by August — perhaps at the latest — kung ma-vaccinate ang ating kabataan at particular ages at saka ‘yung ating mga teachers, pwede na sigurong i-consider yung pino-propose namin palagi na i-pilot ang face-to-face,” Briones said during the Cabinet’s Pre-SONA Forum on Wednesday.
[Translation: Vaccine czar Secretary Galvez assured us that they will try by August – perhaps at the latest – if they are able to vaccinate the youth in particular ages and our teachers, we may consider our long-time proposal to pilot face-to-face classes.]
Lockdowns forced over 20 million students into online and module-based learning since March last year. Children ages 5 and older have been allowed to head out and visit open air spaces just last week, after more than a year of being cooped up inside their homes.
Briones clarified the President would make the final decision. He rejected previous attempts to bring students back to classrooms amid fear of coronavirus transmission.
“The children need it, the teachers need it, the parents need it, the schools need it, but we also have to protect them from dangers and threats of COVID-19, and this is the major consideration of the President,” she added.
The World Bank earlier called on authorities to allow students to go back to school, saying the quality of learning is lower for distance learning platforms.
“We are hoping and looking forward to the time when the environment will be more favorable,” Briones said.
