The Cabinet will have to decide whether to allow only fully vaccinated teachers once face-to-face teaching in classrooms resumes, Department of Justice (DOJ) Secretary Menardo I. Guevarra said on Thursday, July 22.
“Anyway, tough policy questions like these will most likely be discussed at the Cabinet meeting first,” Guevarra said.
He reacted to Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro L. Locsin Jr.’s post in social media: “Is it legal for schools to require teachers to vaccinate before letting them in classrooms when face to face is allowed?”
“Sec. Locsin’s question may have been triggered by Macron’s statement,” Guevarra said.
French President Emmanuel Macron has imposed stringent health measures in his country including requiring its citizens to have health passes to show that they have been vaccinated before being allowed in public venues.
Department of Education (DepEd) Secretary Leonor M. Briones has already announced that the new school year will start on Sept. 13.
Briones said limited face-to-face classes in the upcoming school year remain a possibility as more teachers and students get vaccinated against the coronavirus disease (COVID-19).
But DepEd reminded schools that face-to-face classes are still not allowed and should continue to implement the distance learning system.
It also added that private schools may start the school year much earlier.