Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, June 19) — House Ways and Means Committee chairman Rep. Joey Salceda said the country’s economy costs P96 billion to P134 billion for every month of school delay.
Salceda said in a 122-page report to the COVID-19 task force that “the economic costs of delaying school by one month to be 0.5 to 0.7 percent of GDP [gross domestic product] this year, and 0.3 to 0.4 percent of GDP for the entire productive life of this generation of students.”
Keeping schools closed also leads to socioeconomic costs since this deprives students to learn, considering that education increases income by 10%, he said.
Salceda also noted that this issue leads to social costs, especially for mothers who rely to day care centers, for communities to keep children out of criminal acts, and for children who feel safer in school than in their abusive homes.
The Albay representative said that risks vary depending on the student and per sector that is why there is a need for a range of learning options to be able to resume classes already. The “new normal” per school should also depend on its capability.
“A one-size-fits-all approach to the re-opening of classes is doomed to result in outcomes that will fail for all,” he said. “That is why a continuum of options for learning must be present to account for the differences in risk. We nonetheless believe that school should resume as soon as the country is ready.”
Salceda recommended to have a “risk-stratified approach” to take into account the different risks and situations being faced by students. This will allow students to learn from home, especially those living with high-risk persons.
Internet-based learning should also not be forced in areas with limited access to the internet. Instead, it would be better to focus on the use of television and radio for distance learning.
In line with this, decision tools must also be provided for school administrators designed by the Health and Education departments to guide them on re-opening their schools still taking into account the situation in their areas. For instance, if public transportation has not resumed yet, then physical classes should not resume.
The Education department said that classes for school year 2020-2021 will formally begin on August 24. It said that as of June 15, there was a total of 10,319,505 enrollees.
President Rodrigo Duterte has said that he opposes the opening of classes until a vaccine against the coronavirus disease is available.
