IN-PERSON CLASSES: A teacher points at something to a student at Pedro Cruz Elementary School in San Juan City as it reopened on Feb. 10, 2022 (Photo by GRIG C. MONTEGRANDE / Philippine Daily Inquirer)
MANILA, Philippines — Sorsogon Governor Francis Escudero is urging mayors in areas considered low-risk for COVID-19 to allow schools in their jurisdiction to resume “face-to-face” or in-person classes.
Escudero, who is running for Senate in the upcoming elections, made the remark on Thursday after the Department of Education (DepEd) authorized the start of face-to-face classes in public and private schools in areas under Alert Levels 1 and Alert Level 2.
Schools, however, must first get the approval of the respective local chief excutives of the towns or cities where they are located before proceeding with the in-person classes.
“We operate within a framework of shared responsibility, and it is our job as local chief executives to provide the best learning environment for our children,” Escudero said in a statement.
“They have been cooped up in front of their screens for two years. Studies have shown and we have seen that online learning is not as effective as it should be,” he added.
According to the DepEd, 6,686 schools across the country have passed the School Safety Assessment Tool, a requirement for face-to-face classes.
“Let’s start preparing our public schools to receive students again. Repair what needs to be repaired, establish health and safety protocols, coordinate with parents who might still be worried about letting their kids out,” Escudero said.
“We have to work together to seamlessly and safely transition into a post-pandemic phase,” he added.