Imee Marcos urges return to face-to-face classes in some areas

Senator Imee Marcos on Saturday urged the Inter-Agency Task Force on Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF) to consider the reopening of face-to-face classes in some provinces amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

Marcos said that if asked, the Department of Education would admit that there were problems with modules, internet connections, and house to house deliveries of learning materials.

“Sa palagay ko sa DepEd kung mag rerekomend sila, papayagan na nila ang ibang eskwelahan na mag-sibukas… ang panawagan natin sa IATF sana i-reconsider nila marami naman probinsya na maari nang magbukas,” she said in a radio interview.

“Baka ‘yung classroom na regular, 10 to 15 lang magkakasya na bata o kaya mag bukas na lang sa stadium o auditorium. Hindi buong araw o araw-araw,” she added.

The senator said that local government units and school boards should be given some “leeway” in deciding if they can reopen face-to-face classes.

“Siguro bigyan natin ng kaonting leeway ang mag lokal, school board, konsehal. Sila na mag-decide. Bigyan natin ng clearance kasi may probinsya na mababa ang incident. Kasi ang perwisyong dinudulot ay grabe,” she said.

Marcos lamented how some parents with three to four children have quit their jobs.

“Sa panahong ito na marami walang trabaho, hindi ka pa magtratrabaho. Paano nakakain ang pamilya. Mga teachers natin hindi alam paano mag cope up. Mga bata hirap na hirap,” she said.

A DepEd official said that the possible reintroduction of face-to-face classes in the Philippines would require a shared responsibility among various stakeholders.

Education Secretary Leonor Briones earlier said the DepEd was studying the possibility of a gradual return to face-to-face classes in 2021.

Meanwhile, the Philippines reported a total of 427,797 confirmed cases with 388,062 recoveries and 8,333 fatalities.  — DVM, GMA News