The Department of Education (DepEd) is already preparing hygiene and sanitation facilities in schools in preparation for students to return to school in case the government allows a pilot run of limited face-to-face classes.
In June 2020, the department issued guidelines for required health standards in schools and agency offices.
Now, there is a readiness checklist to measure the readiness of schools for face-to-face classes.
“Nagsagawa na ang DepEd ng mga online training patungkol sa WASH (Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene) in Schools at COVID infection-prevention and control para sa mga teaching and non-teaching personnel,” said Maria Corazon Dumlao, head of the DepEd Bureau of Learner Support Services-School Health Division.
During the School Year 2019-2020, 40,000 schools participated in DepEd’s Water, Sanitation and Hygiene in Schools (WINS) program, according to the agency.
In such a program, schools were given grades 1 to 3 stars, based on their adherence to 5 indicators.
This includes access to safe drinking water, gender-segregated bathrooms, group handwashing facilities, daily group handwashing activities, and menstrual hygiene management.
“Tinatayang triple ang naging bilang ng mga paaralang umabot sa indicators at national standards, ayon na rin sa WinS Monitoring Report ng DepEd mula School Year 2017-2018 hanggang School Year 2019-2020,” said Dumlao.
DepEd focuses on sanitation, hygiene facilities for reopening of classes
Western Visayas is the region with the highest number of schools achieving the national WINS standard, with 1 in 10 schools having a 3-star rating.
DepEd, on the other hand, admitted that sanitation infrastructure is a big challenge because funds and processes are needed to build water supply, toilets, and handwashing facilities.
But for Dumlao, it is possible to promote and maintain cleanliness if DepEd, local government units, and stakeholders work together with parents and students.
Earlier last month, President Rodrigo Duterte announced that he would not allow face-to-face classes due to the ongoing threat of COVID-19, even though many groups are already requesting it due to the challenges of distance learning.
Meanwhile, some senators appealed to President Rodrigo Duterte to allow the pilot face-to-face classes.
According to the senators, the pilot test can be conducted in 100 schools in areas where there are no COVID-19 cases as long as health protocols are followed.