Chiz Asks LGUs to Allow Resumption of Face-To-Face Classes
Sorsogon Gov. Chiz Escudero is urging mayors in low-risk COVID-19 areas to allow schools in their jurisdiction to resume face-to-face classes in support of the government’s target August reopening of in-person classes in all levels.
The Department of Education (DepEd) has directed its regional offices to start the progressive expansion of in-person classes this month, provided that the schools pass the School Safety Assessment Tool (SSAT) and obtain the concurrence of the local government units (LGU) where they are located.
“We operate within a framework of shared responsibility, and it is our job as local chief executives to provide the best learning environment for our children. They have been cooped up in front of their screens for two years. Studies have shown and we have seen that online learning is not as effective as it should be,” Escudero said.
According to the DepEd, 6,686 schools across the country have passed the SSAT (6,586 public and 100 private schools), and more are addressing the gaps to become SSAT-compliant by the next schoolyear.
“Let’s start preparing our public schools to receive students again. Repair what needs to be repaired, establish health and safety protocols, coordinate with parents who might still be worried about letting their kids out. We have to work together to seamlessly and safely transition into a post-pandemic phase,” Escudero said.
The governor, who is seeking a Senate comeback, said LGUs should ramp up the vaccination of teachers and school-age kids.
As of October 2021, only 57% or 588,561 DepEd’s teaching and non-teaching personnel have been either partially or fully vaccinated against COVID-19.
“The World Bank recently released a study saying Filipino students are among the worst in reading, math, and science. I do not believe that’s because they are poor learners but because they have a poor learning environment and may not have the support they need to focus on their studies. We have to address this crisis in education, and we can start by bringing them back to school,” Escudero said.
The Inter-Agency Task Force on Emerging Infectious Diseases said it expects all schools nationwide to reopen with in-person classes by August as the government works to inoculate at least 100% of school-age children by then. #
