Welcome, Kapamilya! We use cookies to improve your browsing experience. Continuing to use this site means you agree to our use of cookies. Tell me more!
Govt urged to allow private schools to resume in-person classes
Govt urged to allow private schools to resume in-person classes
ABS-CBN News
Published Oct 25, 2021 09:24 AM PHT
|
Updated Oct 25, 2021 09:36 AM PHT
A school administrator and teachers read greetings and well wishes from their students through their mobile phones as they gather at the Mataas Na Paaralang Neptali Gonzales in Mandaluyong City on October 05, 2021. National Teachers’ Day is celebrated annually every 5th day of October by virtue of Republic Act no. 10743 passed in January 2016. Jonathan Cellona, ABS-CBN News
MANILA - A Philippine senator is urging government to include private schools in the resumption of face-to-face classes.
Private schools are "willing to invest in health protocols" and have more space versus public schools, said Senator Sherwin Gatchalian, chairperson of the Committee on Basic Education, Arts and Culture.
The Department of Education is still in the process of identifying the 20 private schools that would participate in the pilot implementation of the resumption of in-person classes.
"Initially the target was 1,200 schools, then it was reduced to 120, 60, now it’s only 30 schools that applied. I think there’s still a lot of fear because the criteria’s very strict," he said.
"You need the LGUs (local government units) to agree and the community, stakeholders to agree. There’s still a lot of fear among and LGUs and community members of the school."
Children's vaccination, which government has begun among those with health risks, will help boost confidence of parents, according to Gatchalian.
Under the guidelines of the DepEd and Department of Health, only fully vaccinated school personnel can join the pilot implementation of resumption of in-person classes.
"Definitely this will be a gamechanger. A lot of our parents are already ready to inoculate their teenagers," he said.
"With this vaccination of teenagers, confidence will go up. This will improve the confidence of our parents to bring their kids back to school."
Gatchalian said he would support mandatory vaccination when the country has enough supply.
"We have to wait until our provinces will get their fair share. I think it will happen around end of November then I will support mandatory vaccination even in public places like shopping mall and other areas," he said.
ABS-CBN is the leading media and entertainment company in the Philippines, offering quality content across TV, radio, digital, and film. Committed to public service and promoting Filipino values, ABS-CBN continues to inspire and connect audiences worldwide.
