COVID testing, treatment for teachers pushed amid planned face-to face classes

Sen. Sherwin Gatchalian, chair of the Committee on Basic Education, Arts and Culture. Senate PRIB file photo / Albert Calvelo

MANILA, Philippines — Senator Sherwin Gatchalian urged authorities on Wednesday to ensure that teachers and non-teaching staff would have access to COVID-19 testing and treatment as the government gears up for the limited face-to-face classes in January.

“While we are gradually reopening schools, we should never let our guard down,” Gatchalian, chairman of the Senate committee on basic education, said in a statement, reacting to the planned resumption of in-person classes in selected schools with low COVID-19 cases.

“Health protocols such as the wearing of masks and physical distancing should be strictly observed. We also have to make sure that we have well-ventilated learning spaces, and that handwashing and sanitation facilities are available.”

“Finally, we have to ensure that schools and local government units have reporting and referral systems in place to handle infections. This includes ensuring access to testing and treatment for our teachers and non-teaching staff,” he added.

The senator recognized that allowing face-to-face classes would help address the challenges hounding the roll-out of distance learning such as the “lack of access to adequate internet connection.”

“We also have parents or guardians who are not able to assist our learners with home-based learning because they lack education,” Gatchalian pointed out.

“These problems are even more pronounced in calamity-stricken areas where even the self-learning modules were destroyed,” he added.

Malacanang earlier announced that the dry run for face-to-face classes will be from January 11 to 23, 2021.

JPV