Duterte shoots down trial run of face-to-face classes
Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte shot down proposals to kick-off a trial run of face-to-face school classes, citing the more infectious Delta strain of COVID-19.
Duterte told Education Secretary Leonor Briones that he had to turn down her department’s proposal for the sake of the students.
“I’m sorry, but it’s a difficult situation. I cannot gamble on the health of the children,” he said during his taped weekly briefing on Monday (June 21).
Briones was scheduled to discuss plans to reintroduce face-to-face classes in areas with low COVID-19 transmissions. But after careful consideration of the threat that the virus posed on 27 million students and 847,000 teachers, the education chief said her department would accept the president’s decision and “withdraw” their proposal.
"We are withdrawing our request in light of your decision and we accept fully your decision which is a very well-informed decision, if I may say so," Briones said.
The education secretary noted that the DepEd had always relied on recommendations from health experts, the Department of Health (DOH), and the president on decisions regarding the resumption of classes amid the pandemic.
“Listening to the briefing and listening to your decision, we really don’t have any reservations because we all know all the effect. We are told children are now more prone and perhaps are vulnerable, and we do not want to risk 27 million and our teachers,” Briones said.
The pandemic has sped up the shift to remote learning across the globe. While schools, teachers and parents in the country have adapted to online learning, advocacy groups have pointed out that the Philippines is not prepared for this abrupt change, citing inaccessible technology and unreliable internet connection.
Duterte earlier stated that he would only allow face-to-face classes once vaccines are readily available in the country. As of writing, however, only 2% of the country's population has been fully vaccinated, a far cry from the 70% needed to achieve herd immunity.
Ana Catalina Paje is a development journalist passionate about grassroots communication geared towards genuine social change. She also writes about showbiz, lifestyle, and all things Pinoy pride. The views expressed are her own.
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