Manila: The Philippines will reopen up to 120 schools for classes in-people who are limited to the first time since the beginning of the Coronavirus pandemic in the pilot approved by President Rodrigo Duterte, said officials Monday.
While almost every country in the world has partially or fully reopened by schools for face-to-face lessons, the Philippines has made them close since March 2020.
Safe! You have managed to throw your votelogin to see the results “We have to face pilot face (class) because this is not only a problem for education, this is a mental health problem of children,” President Harry Roque’s spokesman told reporters.
“It’s also a problem for the economy because we might lose one generation if we don’t have face to face (class).”
Under the guidelines approved by Duterte Monday, up to one hundred public schools in areas that are considered “minimal risk” for virus transmissions will be permitted to take part in a two-month trial.
Twenty private schools can also participate.
Classrooms will be open to children in kindergarten to third grade, and high school, but the number of students and hours spent in limited face-to-face lessons.
Schools who want to take part will be assessed for their readiness and need approval from the local government to reopen.
Written approval from parents will be needed.
“If the pilot class is safe, if it’s effective, then we will gradually add it,” said Educational Secretary of Leonor Briones.
Duterte rejected the previous proposal for the reopening pilot to the school to fear children could capture Covid-19 and infect elderly relatives.
But there are calls to increase from the UN children’s funds and many teachers to return to direct learning amid fears of prolonged closure are worsening the education crisis in the country.
It is not clear when the pilot will begin or which school will be included.
The “Blended Learning” program, involving online classes, print materials and lessons broadcast on television and social media will continue.
France Castro from the relevant teacher alliance told AFP the decision “has long been due”.
Fifteen-year-old children in the Philippines are in or near the bottom in reading, mathematics and science, according to data from organizations for economic and development cooperation (OECD).
Most students attend public schools where the size of a large class, the teaching method that has been outdated, lack of investment in basic infrastructure such as toilets, and poverty has been blamed for young people left behind.