At least 10 Catholic schools nationwide have temporarily closed due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Catholic Educational Association of the Philippines (CEAP) said on Tuesday.
Out of the 10, only one has decided to permanently close -- the College of the Holy Spirit Manila.
"Malaking kinalaman ng pandemic sa kawalan ng enrollees ng maraming paaralan, maraming private schools kasi nga walang hanap buhay ang mga parents, walang pambayad ng tuition so yun ang naging dahilan ng College of the Holy Spirit among others (The pandemic had a huge impact on the number of enrollees in many private schools because most of the students' parents are jobless and therefore could not pay tuition. That was also one of the reasons of the College of the Holy Spirit (for its closure)," CEAP Executive Director Jose Allan Arellano told DZMM.
"Pinili ng simbahan at ng mga pare't madre na magsara muna sila (The church, the priests, and nuns have decided to temporarily close )," he added.
Arellano did not disclose the names of the nine other Catholic schools but said most of them are located in the regions, particularly in Central Luzon, some in the Visayas, and one in Mindanao.
Teachers affected by a Catholic school's temporary or permanent closure are either given a separation pay or absorbed in nearby schools owned by the same congregational intuition or diocese, according to Arellano.
As for the students affected, Arellano said they won't have difficulties in transferring to other Catholic schools.
"Tatanggapin sila, di naghihigpit yung mga ibang Catholic schools na tanggapin yung estudyante na galing sa ibang Catholic schools (They will be accepted since other Catholic schools are not strict in accepting students from other Catholic schools)," Arellano said.
The CEAP, however, clarified that most Catholic schools are stable amid the pandemic, and only schools that have around 100 to 200 students have been mainly affected.