ILOILO – With the end of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic still uncertain, teachers and parents are unsure resuming face-to-face classes is a good idea.
“As a parent, I am not ready yet,” said Maria Socorro Colmenares-Quiñon, a medical doctor and mother of two junior high school students.
Other children may not be able to observe minimum health protocols, especially social distancing, in school, she told Panay News.
However, the officer-in-charge of the Provincial Health Office saw vaccination against coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) as a silver lining.
“If the parents of these children are vaccinated first, as well as the teachers, there is lesser risk of COVID-19 transmission to the children,” Quiñon said.
Malacañang previously announced once the country has rolled out two million doses of coronavirus vaccines, President Rodrigo Duterte may authorize the pilot run of face-to-face classes.
Quiñon said her Grade 9 son actually wanted to go back to school because “mas damo daw matun-an.”
Her eldest daughter, meanwhile, said she wanted classes to resume “just next school year.”
“The current distance learning scheme is good so far,” Quiñon said.
Teresa Dy, an obstetrician-gynecologist, has a child in Grade 9.
She is not in favor of full-time schooling because “vaccines are not available for everyone yet.”
Dy suggested this setup: “Gusto ko limited face-to-face and then may ara sang continuation online and modules. Like one hour nga face-to-face and then the rest continue with the distance learning.”
“But totally back to normal? Not yet,” she stressed. “Wala pa kita nabakunahan.”
Vincent Gefes, a father of three (two in college, one in elementary), is also not in favor of face-to-face class resumption. He was from Jordan, Guimaras.
“Indi gani sila ka-normalize sang biyahe sang public transportation, ibutang mo pa da karon ang mga estudyante?” he pointed out.
Gefes said he could not ensure the safety of his children in school.
“The Department of Health (DepEd) should tweak or find other alternatives to make distance learning more effective for the children,” he stressed.
Leah Arlos, on the other hand, found it tough being a working mother and at the same time acting as teacher of her three children.
“Kon sa pagusto-gusto lang gid, pabor ako,” she said.
“Mas may ma-learn sila sa school sang sa sa balay. Plus kon working parent ka, imo pa bala ang burden… ang pagpatuon, kapin pa kun indi ka kabalo sang lesson,” Arlos lamented.
However, she clarified that if her kids’ health would be compromised, she would just opt for blended learning instead of face-to-face classes.
Should classes resume, Arlos said, strict health guidelines must be enforced such as social distancing and making available hand -washing areas, among others.
Another mom, who asked not to be named, said she is sending her two children back to school if the country will achieve “a certain level of herd immunity.”
“Modular classes are a big toll to working parents like us. Our kids do not take us seriously and we become too impatient at times,” she admitted.
“But I’d rather have this than send them back to school at the moment. It’s too risky,” she added.
PILOT AREAS
Five schools in this province have been identified as pilot areas for face-to-face classes should the country’s chief executive officer order such.
According to Dr. Roel Bermejo, DepEd’s Iloilo Schools Division superintendent, the five were considered “low risk” for COVID-19. These were the following:
* Tomas Confesor Memorial Elementary School in Barangay Tabucan, Cabatuan for the elementary level
* Granada National High School – Ballesteros Campus in Carles for junior high school
* Palanguia National High School in Barangay Palanguia, Pototan for senior high school
* Adgao-Tagpu-an-Ingay Integrated School in Tubungan for integrated school
* Cabacanan Elementary School in Alimodian for Indigenous Peoples education
One public teacher said she favors face-to-face classes while one college professor said not this time. Both, however, asked not to be identified for lack of authority to speak on the matter.
“In school, first-hand information will be given to the children,” said the public school teacher.
“They have the opportunity to clarify things when they are in doubt. Social interaction with peers is also important as a part of their development… playing while learning is still one of the best approaches in nurturing children,” the teacher added.
However, the college professor said, “No, not at this time.”
“Although mas gusto ko ang face-to-face classes, pero I am not in favor anay kay tama pa gid ka-crucial.”
“Pwede man na guro kahulat ang face-to-face. Sa public school bi damo-damo students. Just imagine kon magkahawahan. Indi ta pa controlled kon din na sila nagakadto. Better safe than sorry,” the professor explained.
‘DISTANCE LEARNERS’
How are they coping with this setup?
Jerry Calzado, 16, a student of Cayos National High School in Dumangas, Iloilo, said he prefers the modular approach instead of going back face-to-face.
“Kon diri kami sa balay, makabulig pa kami sa amon ginikanan,” Calzado told Panay News.
While he admits there are lots to learn via face-to-face classes, he is fearful of possibly acquiring the virus.
“Indi pa man sigurado kon safe na kami sa virus, so module lang danay,” he said.
Meanwhile, Clarin Joy Patingo, a student of the Iloilo Science and Technology University in La Paz district, welcome the proposed resumption of face-to-face classes.
“I could learn more, that’s why,” she said.
“What’s important is that students would strictly observe minimum health safety protocols,” Patingo added./PN
