Sen. Sherwin Gatchalian voiced hopes of enlisting the Senate’s support for the adoption of Proposed Senate Resolution No. 391., recommending that the Department of Education immediately launch its Pilot Testing Program for localized limited face-to-face classes.
Gatchalian stressed the need to launch the face-to- face pilot
test after the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the basic education system became clear after four in-depth hearings conducted by the Committee on Basic Education, Arts, and Culture.
The senator cited an alarming revelation reported by UNICEF
that the Philippines is only one of 14 countries worldwide and the
only nation in the East Asia and Pacific region whose schools have
stayed continuously closed since the pandemic hit full swing in March
2020.
This, he said, despite the fact that the Philippines is nowhere
near the bottom 14 worldwide in terms of COVID-19 pandemic response
and overall situation on the ground in terms of infections. In fact,
the large majority of areas in the Philippines are already under the
most lenient MGCQ or New Normal classification. There are even 433
municipalities and 3 cities that have been declared COVID-free.
Gatchalian added the inescapable conclusion drawn from the data
is that as many as 25 million Filipino learners enrolled in the basic
education system are being left behind by their learner peers
throughout the region and across the world.
After all, he noted, the preliminary assessment of the
committee is that blended learning under the Basic Education- Learning
Continuity Program of the DepEd has failed to provide a stable and
passable level of educational quality, despite the best efforts of our
students, teachers, and parents during these unprecedented times.
Thus, the senator adds that keeping Filipino learners up to par with
international standards of academic achievement and personal
development would require the gradual reimplementation of face-to-
face classes in relatively low-risk COVID areas pursuant to stringent
public health, hygiene, and sanitary policies and protocols.
“I would like to underline the fact that this resolution does
not seek to railroad the return of face-to-face classes nationwide,”
the senator said, adding: “What is sought here is to empower DepEd –
in cooperation with LGUs, parents and guardians, and local communities
as a whole – to begin a methodical process of gathering evidence on
the ground to guide its framework for the safe reopening of schools
using a risk-based assessment to identify, analyze and reduce the
risks affecting each school.”
He stressed that this is the critical first step towards gradually reopening schools in localities which are prepared to minimize public health risks and keep our children, teachers, parents, and other stakeholders safe and secure from COVID-19
infection.
Significantly, he adds that the face-to-face pilot test would
also lay the groundwork for other essential services related to the
basic education system, such as the resumption of school feeding
programs and the speedy implementation of a COVID-19 vaccination drive
for the benefit of teachers and other stakeholders susceptible to
adult-to-adult transmission.
“We cannot allow Filipino learners to be left behind any
longer,” Gatchalian told fellow senators. “On the long and harrowing
road toward ending the perennial education crisis in our country, the
implementation and normalization of face-to-face education in the New
Normal is a pivotal milestone that can only be achieved if we are
willing to take the first brave step of launching the pilot testing of
localized limited face-to-face classes.”
Therefore, he added, “I respectfully urge the body to join
Senators Nancy Binay, Francisco Pangilinan, Grace Poe, Pilar Cayetano,
Joel Villanueva, Juan Angara, and yours truly in supporting the
adoption of the proposed Senate resolution.”