For face-to-face learning to resume in urban areas particularly in schools located at the National Capital Region (NCR), there should be a high coronavirus disease (COVID-19) vaccination rate for parents, teachers, and students alike.
Coordinating Council of Private Educational Associations of the Philippines (COCOPEA) Managing Director lawyer Joseph Noel Estrada, during the Laging Handa public briefing on Monday, Nov. 22, said that while select public and private schools have started pilot face-to-face classes, there are certain considerations before limited in-person learning is allowed in areas like Metro Manila
“Depende po, may mga tinitingnan po tayo na mga developments, isa na nga po rito iyong vaccination rate (It depends, we are looking at developments, the vaccination rate is one of them),” Estrada said when asked about the possibility of holding face-to-face classes in Metro Manila schools before the year ends.
“I think kailangan talaga mataas iyong vaccination rate at lalo na pati doon sa mga estudyante kung sa basic education, sana mataas na rin ang vaccination rates noong 12 to 17-year-old (I think the vaccination rate really needs to be high, especially for students in basic education, I hope the vaccination rates are also high for 12- to 17-year-olds),” he said.
Estrada also noted that there should not be an increase in coronavirus disease (COVID-19) cases in NCR especially during the holiday season.
Meanwhile, Estrada noted that private schools have been preparing for the resumption of limited face-to-face classes, especially in the expansion phase where all schools might be allowed to hold in-person classes after passing the assessment and evaluation of DepEd and the Department of Health (DOH).
“So, I think—basta ready ba po ay kami ay susunod kami kung ano nag sasabihin ng ating mga health experts at ng ating Kagawaran sa Edukasyon (So, I think — we are ready, we will follow what our health experts and our DepEd would say),” he added.
Asked about the vaccination rate in private schools that are under COCOPEA, Estrada said that the schools “continue to encourage them.”
“Hindi naman natin sila puwedeng pilitin pero I think maliwanag na lumalabas iyong mga guidelines na kailangan fully vaccinated iyong magri-report sa school kung sakaling magkaroon nga ng limited face to face (We can't force them but I think it's clear that based on the guidelines, those who will report to schools that hold limited face-to-face must be fully vaccinated),” Estrada said.
For those that are not yet ready to hold limited face-to-face classes, Estrada said that various strategies will be used by the private schools.
“Iyong hindi vaccinated will have to continue with online at kung hindi pupuwede silang online hahanap tayo ng paraan para masiguro na ligtas iyong mga estudyante at ibang tao sa eskuwelahan, puwedeng i-require sila ng testing every time they go to school (Those who are not vaccinated will have to continue with online and if they can't go online, we will find a way to make sure that the students and other people in the school are safe),” he said.
For instance, private schools may require testing every time the students or personnel will have to go to school for the limited in-person learning.“Iyan iyong mga strategies na talagang pinaghahandaan din ng bawat eskuwelahan (These are just some of the strategies that our schools are preparing for),” he added.
READ:
https://mb.com.ph/2021/11/22/private-schools-prepare-for-the-expansion-phase-of-limited-in-person-classes/