LAST Wednesday’s lead article in PN said “Only DU30 greenlights needed for resumption of face-to-face classes.”
Only?
A year ago, DU30 spoke eloquently against face-to-face classes for understandably safety reasons. We believed that a natural consequence of this decision meant that we should not resume face-to-face classes until and unless we have made significant progress in the fight against Covid.
We have not made progress. In fact, there has been a slow but steady retreat in the fight.
Regrettably, therefore, it is premature to suggest that our children should return to school, even in limited numbers, since we are losing, not winning, the battle against COVID.
Parents believe that safety of our children comes first. If and when there is a decision in principle to return to face-to-face classes, I hope that parents have the decision to approve or disapprove.
DepEd says that it “conducted consultations among parents, students, and other stakeholders” over the proposed (by DepEd presumably) face-to-face classes’ resumption.
Oh yeah?
I have yet to meet anyone who has been “consulted” by DepEd about anything – let alone the resumption of face-to-face classes.
In fact, the lack of consultation has, over the last decade, seen a steady decline in the administration of any significant feature of our demonstrably globally uncompetitive education system.
This began with the ludicrously time-wasting “K-12” system, passed by an acquiescent Congress via RA 10533, which has caused an extra two years of classes without any discernible progress.
Two family members, both victims of K-12, one who graduated in 2018 and one, hopefully will graduate this year, tell me that Grades 11 and 12 are a waste of time.
***
A potentially interesting development in the political arena as the formation of the “1 Sambayan” coalition led by Supreme Court associate justice Antonio Carpio. This grouping, not yet dignifiable as a political party, is clearly anti-Duterte and whoever will run as Duterte’s nominee in 2022.
Some interesting names have been mentioned as members of “1 Sambayan” including Heidi Mendoza. It is many years since I have heard about her. This was when she was a senior member associated with the Ombudsman.
I recall a Senate inquiry into alleged misconduct of AFP officials in which it was suggested that bogus AFP bank accounts were in operation. Mendoza provided her evidence with an extraordinary fluency in which she provided bank account numbers, names, and amounts of possibly doubtful AFP transactions.
Senator Drilon, I remember, was amused by the rapidity by which Mendoza gave her testimony.
If we are ever to reduce the disappointingly high levels of corruption, we need Mendoza to return to the front line.
