Teachers’ group backs Duterte’s stand vs class reopening sans COVID vaccine

MANILA, Philippines — A teachers’ group on Tuesday welcomed President Rodrigo Duterte’s declaration against the reopening of classes on August 24 if a vaccine against the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) remains unavailable.

Teachers’ Dignity Coalition (TDC) said this will allow the Department of Education (DepEd) to focus on its plans to deliver alternative means of education without a formal declaration of class opening.

This will also allow teachers more time to hone their technical capacity and other skills to cope with the “new normal.”

Meanwhile, Congress can start amending the law that mandates class opening within June to August, the group added.

“We hope that this time, DepEd will consider the opinions, views, suggestions and even sentiments of education stakeholders especially parents and teachers in crafting their plans,” TDC said in a statement.

“We are one with the DepEd Secretary in the belief that education must continue even at a time of this a pandemic. Thus, if given the necessary skills and infrastructure, our teachers will gladly comply with DepEd’s instructions,” it added.

“Again, while education is necessary, health and safety of our children should be the top priority,” the group further said.

DepEd earlier announced that the school year 2020 to 2021 will open, physical or online, on August 24.

However, President Duterte said it is “useless” to talk about the opening of classes when there is no vaccine yet against COVID-19.

He said he would not allow the opening of classes if students would crowd inside a classroom unless they are safe.

“Mga bata, ‘wag muna. ‘Yang opening ng classes, that’s a, I will not allow the opening of classes na magdikit dikit ‘yang mga bata. Bahala na hindi na makatapos,” Duterte said.

(Children, not yet – the opening of classes. I will not allow the opening of classes if children will be crowded together in the classrooms.)

“For this generation, wala nang makatapos na doktor pati engineer. Kasi hindi na, wala nang aral. Laro na lang. Unless I am sure that they are really safe.”

(..no one will finish medicine, even engineering. Because there’ll be no lessons…)

“It’s useless to be talking about the opening of classes. Para sa akin, bakuna muna. Pag nandyan ang bakuna, okay na (For me, vaccine first. If it’s available, it’s OK). Remember that,” he further said.

GSG