When President Duterte finally approved a pilot program for limited in-person classes for the first time since the pandemic disrupted learning, it came on the heels of the Philippines being one of the last countries to do so.

In recent weeks, concerns were raised as blended learning was not adequate enough to fully equip students, especially in subjects that require hands-on training. But the Department of Education went ahead with the new school opening, touting the increase in the number of enrollees as a "success." However, many organizations, including international groups such as UNICEF, kept on encouraging the government to find alternative ways as the prolonged closure is creating an "irreversible education crisis."

In a statement by UNICEF, it said: "In 2020, schools globally were fully closed for an average of 79 teaching days, while the Philippines has been closed for more than a year, forcing students to enroll in distance learning modalities. The associated consequences of school closures – learning loss, mental distress, missed vaccinations, and heightened risk of drop out, child labor, and child marriage – will be felt by many children, especially the youngest learners in critical development stages."

When the government relented early this week to face-to-face learning, it stated that this "is not just an issue for education but also for the children's mental health. It is also for the economy because we might lose a generation of learners." Under the approved guidelines, up to 120 schools -- a hundred public schools and 20 private schools -- will be allowed for limited in-person classes in areas that have minimal risk of COVID-19 transmission. The trial will be on a two-month basis and classrooms will be open to children in kindergarten to grade three, and senior high school. For added safety, the number of students and hours spent in the classroom will be limited.

Education Secretary Leonor Briones said that they will closely observe the trial and if it is found effective, the number of schools permitted to have face-to-face classes may be increased. Prior to that, all participating schools will undergo a thorough assessment in coordination with the respective LGU and national agencies such as DOH.

The approval of face-to-face learning, though considered "late" by some organizations, is still welcome news. For some time, the President has been rejecting previous reopening of schools for fear that the students may be infected by the virus, or bring the virus back home.

As of the moment, more guidelines are being crafted for the trial face-to-face learning, but it would be so much "different" from pre-pandemic conditions. Students will not be forced to attend classes as they will need their parents' or guardians' consent. Blended learning will still continue for the rest of the country where there is a high incidence of virus transmission such as NCR.

This news in the education field is a refreshing development. The success of the trial relies heavily on the cooperation between the private and public sectors. Done well, it will pave the gradual easing into the new normal way of education; done hastily, it will not only risk the students to virus exposure but will showcase the ineptitude and sad state of our country's pandemic response.