Senator Nancy Binay Tuesday said she shares the position of the Department of Education (DepEd) to conduct a dry run of face-to-face classes in select schools in areas with low-risk or zero-incidence of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) as long as strict health and safety protocols are implemented.
‘’I believe we really need to accept the fact na ito na ang new normal. We have to be realistic,’’ Binay said. (This is now the new normal.)
‘’As far as schools in the provinces are concerned, online learning is not working for dozens of obvious reasons,’’ she added.
Binay suggested that a twice a week face-to-face arrangement in small class sizes in covered open space or in any safe and secured open space.
She said authorities should study the best practices among the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) neighbors of the Philippines in the opening of their schools because the country should not be locked down forever.
‘’But let me be clear: hanggang di natin naa-address ang readiness ng mga local schools at LGUs to respond to an emergency case and handling or management ng isang public health situation when it comes to COVID, wag nating madaliin,’’ she said. (Not until we have addressed the readiness of local
schools and local government units to respond to an emergency case and handling or management of a public health situation when it comes to COVID, let us not rush things.)
‘’Baka kailangan i-equipt muna natin sila. Pag-aralan din natin iyong pag-balanse sa face-to-face learning at sa pag-address natin sa problema sa COVID,’’ she added. (We may need to equip them. Let us study how to strike a balance between face-to-face learning and how to address the COVID problem.)