Students, teachers call for postponement of Aug. 24 school opening

Several teachers’ and students’ groups have called for the postponement of the opening of classes from the scheduled Aug. 24 to a later date to ensure that health measures are in place.

Pushing back the start of school would also prepare the teachers who have yet to distribute the modules and the students who have no gadgets and means to comply with distance learning.

In a press briefing on Friday, Alliance of Concerned Teachers party-list Rep. France Castro said her group had already asked that the opening of classes be moved at a time when conditions are safe for children.

Louie Zabala of the Manila Public School Teachers’ Association-ACT NCR Union said there was no truth to the Department of Education’s (DepEd) claim that teachers are ready for the opening of classes.

“DepEd has done nothing but pass to principals, division heads and teachers the burden of implementing its learning continuity plan—also an added burden to the parents,” Zabala said.

ACT secretary-general Raymond Basilio said classes should start only when DepEd assures the public school system that essential health standards would be implemented.

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