ILOILO City – Backpedalling from to his previous call to defer the opening of classes until next year, Mayor Jerry Treñas now encourages students to enroll in school despite the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic.
“We cannot let the fear of the coronavirus kill the opportunity for people to acquire knowledge and skills,” said Treñas.
“Systems and processes” are being put in place to ensure the health and safety of students, he added.
“I am confident the public and private educational institutions have initiatives that can give everyone access to education,” Treñas said.
He was referring to various learning methods like online, modular or blended.
Blended learning, according to Education chief Leonor Breones, is a combination of varied approaches to teaching and learning, and will be adjusted based on the situation and/or needs of the school and the students.
The Department of Education (DepEd) earlier underscored the importance of the ongoing registration in both public and private schools as it prepares for the formal opening of classes for School Year (SY) 2020-2021 on Aug. 24.
Secretary Briones in DeEed Order No. 007 series of 2020 set the opening of school year 2020-2021 this Aug. 24 for both public and private schools at the basic education level.
As of June 16, DepEd national enrollment data for SY 2020-2021 showed that there are 11,302,382 learners nationwide who have registered using remote or virtual enrollment system for both public and private schools in the basic education level. Of this number, 10, 941, 619 learners are currently enrolled in public schools and 355, 045 have registered in private schools.
The national enrollment data for basic education covers public and private schools as well as State Universities and Colleges and Local Universities and Colleges – including Kindergarten, Elementary or Grades 1 to 6, Junior High School or Grades 7 to 10, and Senior High School or Grades 11 and 12 as well as non-graded learners with disabilities and those under the Alternative Learning System program.
“We have to arm ourselves with knowledge so we can overcome life’s challenges, to help us become more understanding and compassionate of others, and to contribute to the development of our city and our nation,” said Treñas.
The mayor previously asserted that August this year was still not a good time to resume classes.
“This lack of vaccine may unduly expose children, who are among the vulnerable persons, to the COVID-19 virus,” warned Treñas.
COVID-19 is the infectious disease caused by the most recently discovered coronavirus. This new virus and disease were unknown before the outbreak began in Wuhan City, China in December 2019.Public and private schools have been closed since March as a precautionary measure against COVID-19.
According to Treñas, considering the children’s natural instinct to play and socialize, there might be difficulty imposing stringent social distancing measures among schoolchildren during recess, before and after classes.
Social distancing is a precautionary measure against COVID-19 because the disease can spread from person to person through small droplets from the nose or mouth which are spread when a person with COVID-19 coughs or exhales.
DepEd Region 6 revealed that for school year 2020-2021, it would be exploring alternative teaching methods while the threat of COVID-19 remains.
It is the school principals who would determine what teaching modules are applicable to their schoolchildren’s particular circumstances and needs, said Dr. Lea Belleza, spokesperson of DepEd Region 6.
Face-to-face teaching may still be possible in areas deemed as low-risk for COVID-19 transmission or do not have internet connection needed for online classes.
In areas considered high-risk, online classes may be observed for as long as there is internet connection and the teachers and students have the needed devices.
In the face-to-face class set up, physical distancing would be observed, said Belleza.
It is possible to divide a class – one half for the morning session and the other half for the afternoon session – to achieve physical distancing among students.
Belleza also stressed DepEd Region 6 would respect parents’ decision on the schooling of their children, that is, if they would enroll them for school year 2020-2021 or not.
The health, safety and well-being of children are the concerns of schools, too, she stressed./PN
