'Consider face-to-face classes in Batanes, Dinagat and other provinces without COVID-19 transmission' --- Robredo

Two weeks before schools reopen classes for the new schoolyear,  Vice President Leni Robredo repeated her call to the Department of Education (DepEd) to look into her proposal to conduct face-to-face classes in low-risk areas and in those places where there are no coronavirus cases. 

”Hanggang ngayon pinapakiusap pa din natin na gamitin nila iyong risk assessment survey. Sa mga lugar na puwede namang mag-face-to-face classes, sana mag-face-to-face na lang (Up to now, we still request the use of risk assessment survey. I hope face-to-face classes will be conducted in areas where it could be held),” she said over dzXL.

The vice president cited Batanes that has recorded zero COVID-19 cases since the onset of the outbreak, including Dinagat Islands province and other coastal areas in the country.

“Sana i-reassess nila (I hope they will reassess it),” Robredo said.

”Kasi mahirap na iyong desisyon natin parang one-size-fits-all, na iba-iba iyong sitwasyon ng mga paaralan (Because it will be difficult our decision is one-size-fits all when schools have different situations),” she added.
 
Robredo renewed her call to the DepEd as she shared her observations about the readiness of some schools for distance learning.

She noted that printing self-learning modules for students in different regions appeared to be more expensive than providing them gadgets for their online learning classes.

Public schools are set to reopen on October 5 after the DepEd reset the opening of classes for the last time to this date from the previously-set reopening dates in June and August due to the COVID-19 lockdown.

The DepEd shifted to distance learning for school year 2020-2021 following President Duterte’s directive for schools not to hold in-person classes to limit coronavirus transmissions until a safe and effective vaccine becomes available.

The Office of the Vice President (OVP) has initiated efforts to establish learning hubs across the country to help students without computers and internet access in preparation for online learning.

Robredo said they have now 179 trained volunteers who will run their 12 community learning hubs.

These hubs are located in Pinagbuhatan, Pasig City; San Antonio and Libacao, both in Negros Oriental; Caloocan City; Taytay, Rizal; Balete, Aklan; and San Jose, Camarines Sur; among others.

”After nito, mag-o-open na iyong dalawa pero mayroon tayong nakaabang na...48 pa na community learning hubs (After this, we will open two more, but we have on standby 48 community learning hubs),” she said.