Out of 48,000 schools in the country, only 100 public schools participated in the pilot run of face-to-classes last November 15, 2021, Monday.
Selected educational centers, mostly in far-flung areas, were chosen by the Department of Education (DepEd) and the Department of Health (DOH). Plastic barriers were installed desk by desk, restricting close contact among students in the classrooms. Likewise, students were also asked to practice minimum safety measures such as wearing masks, and face shields; contact tracing information; and sanitizing their hands.
Two schools in Zambales, however, failed to reopen as two of the teaching personnel from San Marcelino National High School; and five instructors from Baliwet Elementary School were screened positive of the virus. According to DepEd, these schools were identified to exhibit low infection rate prior to reopening.
The Alliance of Concerned Teachers (ACT) Philippines emphasized the pivotal role of screening testing for the safety of school stakeholders. ACT Secretary General Raymond Basilio lauded the rapid antigen testing in Zambales schools as it addressed potential COVID-19 cases, preventing the virus from spreading further. He also blasted the Duterte administration for its indifference to such a safe school necessity.
“There are many affordable antigen test kits that can be availed, and the government can get them at cheaper prices if bought in bulk. If the government was able to squander billions on the overpriced Pharmally supplies, then why can’t it invest smartly on antigen testing for safe school reopening,” Basilio asserted.
Nonetheless, DepEd celebrated the “success” of the pilot run of face-to-face classes. It seemed to overlook the incidents in Zambales schools.
“We are thankful for everyone who supported this key phase in our safe return to school advocacy, from the planning stage since 2020 to this monumental day. We are grateful to the assistance of the Department of Health (DOH), the IATF, child health experts, local government units, international and local partners, school personnel, parents, and other stakeholders for reinforcing our shared responsibility framework in this critical undertaking,” DepEd stated.
“This is preparatory to an expansion phase and we are confident that we will be able to successfully conduct this pilot phase. We will learn from it and so that we will be ready for the implementation and reintroduction of face-to-face classes sa lahat po ng ating mga paaralan sa buong bansa sa susunod na taon (in all schools in the country next year),” Education Undersecretary Nepomuceno Malaluan said.
It has almost been two years since the forced school shutdown last March 2020. Venezuela preceded the Philippines in lifting the closure with over 11 million students resuming their classes last October 25, 2021.
Meanwhile, the presence of soldiers in one of the schools in Alaminos City violated DepEd’s National Policy Framework on Learners and Schools as Zones of Peace. In its defense, the education agency clarified that the law enforcers were part of the security team of City Mayor Bryan Celeste who happened to pay a visit.
Celeste, however, said otherwise. He revealed that the armed entities were employed by the school official “to ensure the safety and well-being of the students, teachers, parents and stakeholders.”
Last November 10, 2021, ACT, alongside other organizations, forwarded five demands for a safe resumption of in-person learning.
- Weekly COVID-19 antigen testing to screen all learners, teachers, and staff who will participate in the classroom in-person learning
- Special vaccination program in areas where schools that will participate in the pilot run of face-to-face classes are located
- Retrofitting of classrooms to ensure better ventilation, with each having a minimum of two electric fans, and air-conditioned rooms having air filters
- Mass hiring of school nurses
- Medical fund for free treatment of those who will get infected with COVID-19
Amid the surge of COVID cases, various sectors also continue to clamor for Ligtas na Balik Eskwela, teachers’ overtime compensation, P10,000 student assistance, and P1,500 teachers’ monthly allowance. They denounce the government for its blatant disregard for the education sector.
On a later date, November 22, 2021, 30 private schools are expected to join the first batch of schools conducting limited face-to-face learning.
“Kung safe ang pilot, if it is effective, then we will gradually increase. Ang mahalaga, bantayan natin ang risk assessment. ‘Pag may pagbabago sa risk assessment, then talagang titigilin natin,” DepEd Secretary Leonor Briones added.
In celebration of the International Student’s Day, November 17, 2021, various student groups staged an on-ground in the Higher Education Development Center in Diliman this morning, and will hold an online mobilization at 4PM to intensify the calls for #LigtasNaBalikEskwela.
During the protest, Commission on Higher Education (CHED) chairperson Prospero de Vera rejected the students’ request for a dialogue aiming to register their demands and proposal on improving the current remote learning set-up.
Featured image courtesy of CNN Philippines
