Some senators say they support the proposal to pilot test face-to-face classes in select schools even after President Rodrigo Duterte disapproved of its resumption before vaccine roll-out.
Senator Sherwin Gatchalian said during the hearing of the Senate Committee on Basic Education, Arts and Culture said this would help experts to find measures to manage the effects of COVID-19.
“Hindi naman po ibig sabihin na kinancel ‘yung ating face-to-face, titigil na rin tayo sa pilot schools. This is a good way for our society to study what can be done to mitigate the effects of COVID,” Gatchalian said.
“I like to support and echo Senator Kiko’s (Francis Pangilinan) proposal to continue the pilot school program,” he added.
Meanwhile, Senator Nancy Binay recommended conducting the pilot test in areas with zero or with a low number of COVID-19 cases to check if face-to-face classes could work amid the pandemic.
“Bakit hindi? For example, sa Batanes, wala na yatang kaso ngayon doon o sa Siquijor. Baka puwede doon muna sa dalawang lugar muna tayo mag-pilot para lang makita na it is possible, it is doable,” she said.
Some senators support pilot testing of face-to-face classes in select schools
Meanwhile, the League of Provinces of the Philippines (LPP) proposed Monday to resume face-to-face classes in colleges and universities amid the increase of cases, detection of new coronavirus variants, and delay of the vaccination program launch.
“Tama ho ‘yun. ‘Yun ay medyo delikado talaga dahil ‘yung sa mga kabataan ay mahirap pong kontrolin. Pero yung sa mga higher education institution, puwede po ‘yun, may mga edad na ‘yan,” said LPP president and Marinduque governor Presbitero Velasco Jr. on Dobol B TV.
President Rodrigo Duterte decided there would be no face-to-face classes until August 2021, presidential spokesperson Harry Roque said Monday.
“Nagdesisyon na po ang ating Presidente na wala pa ring face-to-face classes,” Roque said.
“Ayaw niya malagay sa alanganin ang buhay ng mga mag-aaral at guro habang wala pang nababakunahan sa bansa,” Roque added.
However, Roque said face-to-face classes could resume in areas with a low number of cases by August.
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