Mandatory in-person classes to push through, says VP Sara

Duterte also discussed the strict prohibitions on eating, given the limited spaces which might increase the probability of transmission. (File Photo: Inday Sara Duterte/Facebook)

MANILA – Vice President and Education Secretary Sara Z. Duterte insisted Thursday the implementation of face-to-face classes in public and private schools nationwide will push through this coming Nov. 2 to address learning loss.

Duterte made the statement despite calls for reconsiderations due to the risks from the coronavirus disease (Covid-19) and the short vacation of teachers for the next school year.

In an interview, Duterte said the Department of Education (DepEd) Order 034 has been already approved by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.

“Meron po tayong na-cite na study doon sa ating presentation sa Pangulo, and this is a published paper already na there are really, truthfully learning losses sa mga bata kapag sila po ay nasa online classes or nasa distance learning… Nakalagay pa doon na it is more pronounced and learners are disadvantaged at home. So ang ibig sabihin po noon, it is worse doon sa ating pamilya na naghihirap (We have cited a study on our presentation before the President, and this is a published paper already, that there are really, truthfully learning losses among children when they are in online classes or distance learning. It also indicated that it is more pronounced and learners are disadvantaged at home. Meaning, it is worse for poor families),” she said.

The vice president noted that schools still have until Oct. 31 to prepare for the full transition to an in-person class setup.

“For August 22 until October 31, options are indicated in our Department Order. First is the five-day in-person classes. Secondly, the blended modality. This is where [schools may opt to do] three days in-person [classes] and then two days remote, or distance learning. And then after they can shift to four days of in-person classes and one-day distance learning. Or they can mix up,” she said in mixed English and Filipino.

But from Nov. 2 and beyond, all schools must shift to in-person classes with the implementation of “physical distancing whenever possible”.

“The reason why we included the ‘physical distancing shall be implemented whenever possible’ is that, this is one of the considerations included because we don’t want to add, add on the burden of additional classes in schools due to distancing,” she said.

This means that the DepEd will not be setting a standard size or learners’ capacity per room, as school spaces vary in size.

No eating together

Duterte also discussed the strict prohibitions on eating, given the limited spaces which might increase the probability of transmission.

“This is one of the instances, where we remove our face masks, so eating together, should be prohibited, and if the spaces are limited inside the schools, [learners] should be separated from each other by eating while facing the same directions. So [learners] will not be facing each other,” she added.

The education chief, meanwhile, encouraged parents or family members, especially the vulnerable ones, to avail themselves of the booster shots against Covid-19 since children were found to be of high recovery rate than them.

She noted that maintaining the minimum health protocols would be of significant help alongside vaccination.