IF President Duterte gives the go-ahead, some 300 schools across the country may pilot limited face-to-face classes for school year (SY) 2021-2022.
Education Secretary Leonor Magtolis Briones, in an online press briefing on Monday, said the original number was 1,900 schools as recommended by the regional directors of DepEd.
“After the assessment, this was trimmed down to 600 schools, and then further lessened to 300 schools,” Briones explained.
Briones added, however that the number would still change, “depending on the behavior of the Delta Covid-19 variant and Covid-19 will largely [have an impact] whether we will have extensive face-to-face or not.”
The pilot face-to-face, Briones said, will not necessarily be implemented in all regions and the schools involved must first be assessed by the Department of Health and Inter-Agency Task Force first.
Briones said that face-to-face will be implemented in a city or municipality if: approved by local government units, the school has water access, there are health units nearby, transportation like tricycles and canteens have complied with the standards set by the DOH and IATF, and, the “most crucial,” parents have given their written consent.
Meanwhile, Briones agrees with the opinion piece of Dr. Takeshi Kasai, the World Health Organization (WHO) Director for the Western Pacific, along with Karin Hulshof, the Unicef Regional Director for East Asia and the Pacific, that prolonged school closures have a “significant impact” not just on children’s skills attainment and earning prospects, but also on their physical and mental health. And, while online education can “guarantee some continuity of learning” for some children, these services are “no substitute for in-person
attendance.”
“The observations of WHO are very valid, especially that we pointed that out since last year. When the lockdown was instituted, we already pointed out that there will be costs but the main concern at that time was the protection and health of the children at that time,” Briones said when asked by the BusinessMirror for her reaction.
“We agree with the point of view [of WHO]. The question is, when do we implement it? Do we implement it at the time of UK [variant]? Do we implement it at the time of Delta variant?” Briones asked, noting also that the quarantine classification in the country changes every 15 days.
In general, the DepEd chief said the advice is “quite sound and we actuality agree with them but the actual implementation will depend on the real circumstances of the country.”
Briones, who was elected Vice President of the Southeast Asian Ministers of Education Organization (Seameo) recently, said some schools in Southeast Asia remain closed as well due to the threat of Covid-19.
“I agree with WHO. But how we will apply it? I apply it with the law, the President will decide…we will give him all the information that he needs,” she concluded.