DepEd urged to use class deferment to enhance COVID-19 safety measures

Assistant Minority Leader and ACT Teachers Representative France Castro on Friday urged the Department of Education to use the postponement of the school year opening to implement safety guidelines for teachers, non-teaching personnel, students and their families amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

In a statement, Castro called on DepEd to provide adequate personal protective equipment and transportation to teachers delivering modules and ensure enough modules are printed for students amid the country’s transition to distance learning.

She also said DepEd must ensure aid for teachers and non-teaching personnel who will contract COVID-19.

According to ACT, at least 100 teachers and non-teaching personnel have been infected with the virus in NCR, 13 in Region IV-A, 21 in Region VII and one in Region X and II.

“Health and quality of education must not be sacrificed just for the sake of reopening the school year. The (DepEd) must use this time to comprehensively study and implement concrete plans for the safe and quality reopening of schools that will be accessible by every child,” Castro said.

“Inamin na sa wakas ng DepEd na hindi pa siya handa sa muling pagbubukas ng klase, gamitin niya ang panahon ngayon para siguraduhing pagdating ng October 5 ay ligtas at kalidad ang ibibigay nitong edukasyon sa ating mga kabataan at hindi maging dagdag na pahirap para sa mamamayan,” she added.

In a virtual press conference on Friday, Education Secretary Leonor Briones said the number of COVID-19-infected teachers are “very minimal.”

She added that the department is extending assistance to all virus-hit personnel.

“May mga kaso tayo pero iilan-ilan lamang na mga teachers at mataas naman ang recovery rate… this is because hindi naman sila pumapasok at this time,” Briones said.

“Maski na hindi ma-trace na sa DepEd ang pinanggalingan ng isang infection, tinutulungan pa rin natin… Lahat ng nagkakasakit, tinutulungan natin ngayon,” she added.

DepEd earlier announced that President Rodrigo Duterte has approved its recommendation to move the opening of School Year 2020-2021 from August 24 to October 5.

Briones said they submitted the recommendation to Duterte last August 6 after Metro Manila, Cavite, Bulacan, Laguna and Rizal were reverted to modified enhanced community quarantine (MECQ).

She said the postponement applies to both public and private schools, although the latter who have started classes will still be allowed to proceed as long as they will comply with the minimum health standards set by the government.

Briones reiterated that there would still be no face-to-face learning to ensure the safety of students and school staff despite the deferment of the school opening.

She also said this would be the final adjustment to the school opening. —LDF, GMA News