THE FURTHER reduction of participating schools in the pilot run of limited face-to-face classes of the Department of Education – from 120 schools to just 30 schools – is disappointing. As long as preparations for face-to-face classes are not given utmost importance, the number of participating schools will continue to drop and lead to again postponing the possibility of having face-to-face classes in the country.
The Philippines is the last in the whole world to open its schools. The longer we keep our schools closed, the more our government is sacrificing quality education our students receive.
The Department of Education needs to ramp up its efforts to ensure that all our schools will have proper facilities for proper ventilation, adequate distancing between students, hand-washing facilities and other health protocols so that eventually, all schools can reopen. The guidelines for the limited face-to-face classes could also be improved by having more proactive measures in ensuring the safety of our teachers and learners such as ramping up testing in the community and for those who will participate in in-classroom learning; ensuring the availability of school nurses in the participating schools; having sanitation personnel; medical support for those who may get infected by COVID-19; and hazard pay for education workers. These are simple additions to the guidelines that would greatly affect the safety and security of those participating in the pilot runs.
The decision for face-to-face classes seems to have become too centralized in Deped national. It may also be necessary to let Schools Division Offices decide based on health assessment so that they can implement face-to-face classes.
With the current anemic pandemic response, it is very understandable that many Filipinos still have second thoughts on having face-to-face classes. This is why the call has always been to prioritize medical solutions and ensure adequate budget will be provided to the education sector to make the safe return of face-to-face classes possible. DepEd must keep pushing for a higher budget and support from the national government to make sure that education remains a priority.
The longer we keep schools closed, learning loss among students only continues to worsen. Another year of modules for students without adequate guidance from their teachers will be another wasted year for the students, teachers and parents. Another year of school closure would also mean more youth will have limited to no access to quality education.
