Poe says gov’t could have been ‘better prepared’ for school opening
FILE PHOTO: Senator Grace Poe during the hybrid plenary session on Tuesday, August 16, 2022. Voltaire F. Domingo/Albert Calvelo/Senate PRIB
MANILA, Philippines — Senator Grace Poe on Monday said the government could have been “better prepared” for the opening of classes amid reports of classrooms lacking basic facilities and transportation issues on Day One of School Year (SY) 2022-2023.
Classes for the SY 2022-2023 started Monday, with some schools already implementing face-to-face classes.
“When we asked our students to return to classes amid the pandemic, all systems should have been in place to ensure that public utility vehicles are available, traffic flow is manned efficiently and health protocols are observed,” Poe said in a statement.
“Classrooms are expected to have the basic facilities. Students should be sitting on chairs, not on the floor,” she added.
READ: DepEd touts hitch-free opening of classes
A member of the Senate committee on education, Poe said students deserve a safe and comfortable experience as they bravely go back to school amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
“We hope concerned agencies will make up for the hitches encountered on Day One of face-to-face classes and make the coming days pleasant for our learners,” she said.
Meanwhile, Senator Jinggoy Estrada said the resumption of in-person classes is a “move towards the right direction” since it is still considered the best way of learning.
He acknowledged that some students may yet get used to face-to-face classes and that even teachers may still have to adjust in the present setup, especially in implementing health protocols.
“But these are minor problems and mishaps on the first day. The bigger problem is how to ensure the learning recovery of the students and how to overcome the lost years of education which was caused by the global health emergency,” he said.
“I am certain that the Department of Education, under the leadership of Vice President Inday Sara Duterte, prepared for all eventualities in the reopening of classes under the New Normal,” Estrada added.
On the other hand, Senator Lito Lapid said a return to in-person classes “has long been overdue.”
“It will be some time before we reach some level of normalcy again, but I have every faith that the Filipino spirit of resilience will take us to where we need to be,” he said.
“I, and my colleagues in the Senate, will watch the developments intently and provide the necessary support once the budget season resumes,” he added.
