Youth solon calls for 'health break' for all educational institutions amid COVID-19 spike

Kabataan party-list Representative Sarah Elago on Monday called on the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) and the Department of Education (DepEd) to implement a health break in all educational institutions amid the spike of COVID-19 infections in the country.

Through House Resolution 2444, Elago said a number of students and teachers have contracted the coronavirus, especially with the threat of Omicron coronavirus variant.

She said that compassion and humanity dictate that easing the academic load is necessary to help them in this time of health crisis.

Aside from the threat of the pandemic, some teachers and students are also recovering from the onslaught of Typhoon Odette, especially those in the Visayas and Mindanao.

"As the country reels from a global health crisis and its social and economic impacts, Department of Education Secretary Leonor Briones, Commission on Higher Education Chairman Prospero De Vera and President Rodrigo Duterte should take action now more than ever to assist students and teachers," Elago said.

She said teachers and students could not be forced to "function normally" when they are ill and experiencing symptoms or if they are recovering mentally from the effects of the pandemic.

The DepEd National Capital Region has already suspended classes from January 15 until 22 to ease the burden of teachers and students due to the spike in COVID-19 cases.

However, the DepEd-NCR said students should use their “midyear break," which is scheduled from January 31 to February 5, to complete their backlogs in learning outputs.

Elago also filed House Resolution 2443 urging CHED, DepEd and other national agencies to extend compassion to education stakeholders affected by Odette last year.

She said several groups of teachers have already called for unity with other school administrators for a more humane approach when it comes to disaster response.

Elago said this includes the immediate conclusion of the semester and the enforcement of "no fail" and "no forced drop" policies. —Anna Felicia Bajo/KBK, GMA News