ILOILO – Gov. Arthur “Toto” Defensor Jr. maintained his opposition to the reopening of schools on Aug. 24.
He warned that resuming classes while there is no indication yet that the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has effectively been combatted could put more pressure on the already skidding economy.
He would rather forego school year 2020-2021, according to Defensor, so that everybody could focus on two essential moves – containing the viral illness and rebuilding the economy.
“Ang bagay nga puede mapaumod, ipamuod ta anay,” Defensor reiterated.
He was referring to the scheduled reopening of schools on Aug. 24 set by the Department of Education (DepEd). Education secretary Leonor Briones also called on public school teachers and employees to report back to work on June 1, 2020 to prepare for the new school year.
“Puede man kahulat ang aton eskwelahan,” Defensor said. “Maayo gid subong nga duha ang aton ginabantayan.”
Defensor, however, now appeared to have differing views with Iloilo City’s Mayor Jerry Treñas.
Treñas recently issued a statement encouraging students to enroll in school despite the pandemic.
“We cannot let the fear of the coronavirus kill the opportunity for people to acquire knowledge and skills,” said Treñas.
He added “I am confident the public and private educational institutions have initiatives that can give everyone access to education.”
He was referring to various learning methods like online, modular or blended.
Blended learning, according to 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.
Defensor, for his part, said circumstances may be different in the province compared to Iloilo City and this has pushed Treñas to agree on the resumption of classes.
“Puede nga lain ang panan-awan sang Iloilo City because lain ang setting sang syudad,” the governor added.
He, however, acknowledged that August is still three months away and he is hopeful there would be no additional COVID-19 cases in the country and in Iloilo in particular.
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.
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./PN
