Online classes not readily available amid parents' school safety concerns - DepEd's Angara

Education Secretary Sonny Angara on Thursday said online learning is not a readily available option for most students despite growing concerns among parents following recent incidents of school violence.

This was Angara’s response after he was asked whether parents worried about campus safety could opt to keep their children at home and attend classes online, expalaining some schools offer such arrangements but these remain limited.

“In some schools it exists, but it’s not something that is readily available,” he said during an ambush interview in Quezon City.

Angara noted that internet connectivity and access to technology remain challenges for many Filipino families.

“Alam ninyo ang state of internet infrastructure natin at siyempre ‘yung ibang magulang hindi rin kaya,” he said.

(You are aware of the country’s state of internet infrastructure and there is also the fact not all parents are capable of providing this.)

Instead, the Education chief said DepEd is focusing on strengthening campus security through increased police visibility, additional security guards, metal detectors, closed-circuit television (CCTV) cameras, and other safety protocols to help ensure students can continue attending face-to-face classes safely.

His remarks came as schools across the country heightened security measures following recent incidents of campus violence and threats, including the Tacloban school shooting and false reports that caused panic in schools in Quezon City and Cebu City. —RF, GMA News