Tolentino: Let limited face-to-face classes resume in low-risk island provinces

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MANILA, Philippines — Senator Francis Tolentino on Tuesday pushed for the resumption of limited face-to-face classes for the upcoming school year in island provinces where there is a low COVID-19 risk.

Since the vaccination of teachers has already commenced, the national government should explore the possibility of allowing the gradual resumption of face-to-face classes in safe and low-risk areas, according to Tolentino in an interview over ABS-CBN News Channel.

He said the government’s pandemic task force should consider allowing low-risk island provinces like Guimaras, Biliran, Batanes, and Camiguin to resume physical classes while still abiding with existing minimum health protocols.

Tolentino admitted he doubts the effectiveness of the distance learning modality—a combination of online and modular learning—considering the country’s problem with internet connectivity, thus, face-to-face classes in selected areas across the country should be authorized.

“It should not be a total online-hybrid modality… it won’t work, it never works,” the senator said.

Further, while the World Bank has apologized for the inadvertent publication of its recent report on the poor performance of Filipino students, Tolentino believes that the learning accumulation of students “really went down.”

READ: 80% of PH kids don’t know what they should know – World Bank

Education Secretary Leonor Briones recently announced that School Year 2021-2022 will open on September 13.

KGA