DepEd Urged To Move Opening Of Classes To August Or September Due To Virus Threat

ACT-CIS party-list Representative Jocelyn Tulfo is urging concerned government agencies to move the opening of classes for the next school year to either August or September to give schools time to recover from the impact of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) situation.

In a statement, Congresswoman Tulfo recommended to the Department of Education (DepEd), the Commission on Higher Education, the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority, and the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases to “synchronize the opening of the new school year either in August or September” on a trial basis.

“Huwag po nating ipilit buksan ang school year sa June. Mabuti nang nag-iingat at daig ng maagap ang masipag,” the lady lawmaker said.

“Maraming eskuwelahan ang kinailangang gamitin bilang staging area, relief goods distribution center, o temporary community quarantine facility. Marapat lamang na malinis nang maigi ang bawat sulok ng mga paaralan,” she added.

According to Congresswoman Tulfo, the week-long Brigada Eskwela will not be enough to ensure that every school and classroom is disinfected, clean, and safe for use.

Further, she said an entire month should be devoted to the decontamination of all school and sports facilities, including dormitories, that were used for COVID-19 response measures.

Congresswoman Tulfo also said that delaying the opening of classes would also allow the national and local governments to come up with solutions to ensure that every student will be able to attend school amid the economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.

“While all education agencies have existing electronic voucher systems, there may be a need to double or triple the funding for these considering the situation,” she said.

In addition, she said that the government could also give food and transport fare vouchers for students who may need them.

“I ask the Departments of Finance, Department of Budget and Management, and the education agencies to recommend to Congress a Pantawid Edukasyon conditional cash transfer program for all students in the low income and lower-middle-income brackets,” Congresswoman Tulfo said.

“It would be easy for families in financial distress because of COVID-19 to stop sending their kids to school. The government must assure them that they must keep their kids in school and the government will be there to help because it is a must,” she added.

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Meanwhile, Education Secretary Leonor Briones said that DepEd is looking at various contingency plans to ensure that the education of millions of learners will continue.

“We still assume that our school calendar will continue but we also know that anything can happen so we have contingency measures which are being undertaken,” Secretary Briones said.

Among the contingency measures being eyed by DepEd is the use of Information and Communications Technology (ICT), particularly online learning.

Secretary Briones noted that just before the COVID-19 pandemic, the DepEd was already discussing with Information Technology experts on “really connecting all schools in terms of information.”

“We’re looking into how can we connect with any school at any time, any official at any time, and we were already starting this on a pilot basis,” she added.

Source: GMA