Vice President and Education Secretary Sara Duterte emphasized that the resumption of face-to-face classes nationwide is a great achievement for the Filipino youth.
In her message during the National School Opening Day Program held at Dinalupihan Elementary School, Duterte said the reopening of in-person classes is a step bravely taken by Department of Education (DepEd) despite the challenges and fears brought by the Covid-19 pandemic.
“We have heard the clamor of some organizations to suspend the opening of classes and just do it in September or October. There are valid and reasonable points made, but what is being discussed here is the future of the Filipino youth. We can no longer make Covid-19 as an excuse to keep our children from their schools,” she furthered.
The Vice President assured that DepEd, together with Department of Health, has laid down guidelines to prevent learners, and teaching and non-teaching personnel from being infected with Covid-19 in schools.
She shared the story of Triana Elementary School located in Limasawa Island, Southern Leyte which was one of those damaged by typhoon Odette in December but worked to keep up with the opening of classes so that children could continue their studies.
“There is no denying that a number of schools in Mindanao and the Visayas need urgent reconstruction and rebuilding following the devastation made by Typhoon Odette in December. We acknowledged that these [Odette-affected] schools need immediate intervention and facelift to become safe spaces and conducive again for learning of our children,” the cabinet official said.
However, Duterte said the Philippines has been reopening up just like the rest of the world has reopened; citing that the public cannot make the lack of educational infrastructure or the inadequate number of classrooms in other provinces another excuse to keep children from schools.
She said the story of Triana Elementary School is a representation of the resilience and strength of Filipinos in the face of challenges.
“We cannot afford to delay the education of Filipino youth any longer. We need to bring them back to in-person learning because with in-person learning, they can get meaningful, adequate, valid, and quality education that they need to cultivate their minds and their ability to become partners of the government in nation-building,” Duterte said.
The resumption of in-person classes is also a day when education stakeholders made one of the most important decisions on behalf of children as this will impact the future they chart.
“Our commitment to basic education must never falter. Our children deserve to have this memorable moment— the first day of school experience where they start to build their dreams,” Duterte said.
Research on the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic to school children around the world point to a significant learning loss; however, she assured that DepEd regional offices and schools divisions have prepared learning recovery plans to address learning gaps and accelerate students’ learning during this critical period.
She added that DepEd’s special programs will be complemented by interventions from many organizations and education partners that wish to help school children recover from their learning loss.
For the part of the Office of the Vice President, she said they started rolling out the Pagbabago Campaign which is designed to help augment parents’ school expenses by providing school supplies and dental kits to students enrolled in Grade 1 and in Grade 7; distributing food relief packs to parents; and giving talks about responsible parenthood.
Meanwhile, Duterte challenged the students to do well in their studies and to have no excuse in doing their assignments and projects, as well as in submitting requirements to their teachers.
“Our shared dedication, our shared strength as a nation, our shared aspirations for our children and our country have brought us here today. Today, we are making things possible for children. We are making things possible our country. We will not break. Let us continue to love the Philippines,” she urged. (CLJD/MJSC-PIA 3)
