For a group of education workers, the guidelines set by the Department of Education (DepEd) for the resumption of face-to-face classes are “unacceptable” for lacking any substantive health measure that would protect teachers and students.

Alliance of Concerned Teachers (ACT) Philippines Chairperson Vladimer Quetua, in a statement issued Thursday, July 14, said that the DepEd Order No. 34 series of 2022 or the School Calendar and Activities for the School Year 2022-2023 is a “recipe for disaster” because schools will revert to the unsafe and old ways of schooling.

The newly-issued DepEd order has directed all schools to implement five-day in-person classes set up by November. Quetua pointed out that the guidelines require 100 percent resumption of face-to-face classes using the “pre-pandemic class size and schedule” without a clear health protection mechanism aside from wearing face masks.

“They removed any requisite for inspection or even a mere checklist of requirements for safe school reopening,” Quetua said. “There is no standard for classroom ventilation aside from opening the doors and windows,” he added.

The progressive teachers also lamented that “there is no requisite for hand washing facilities or steady water supply the need for a clinic or a nurse is not even mentioned.”

Quetua also slammed the guidelines which noted that “physical distancing is just optional if possible and when eating, students should not sit across each other.”

The “final nail on the coffin” of a safe return to school, Quetua said, is that the DepEd directive stated that the “school is in no way liable if any student, teacher or staff contracts Covid.”

Given this, Quetua said that the guidelines issued by DepEd under its new secretary, Vice President Sara Duterte, are not “acceptable” because the agency is putting the health and safety of learners and teachers at risk.

“The country cannot wait any longer for face-to-face classes to resume pero magiging matagumpay lamang ito kung ligtas ang pagbabalik-paaralan (but this will only be successful if we ensure a safe return to school),” Quetua said.

Quetua then reiterated ACT’s call for the following requisites to be implemented for a safe 100 percent back to school in November which includes doubling of school maintenance and operating budget for proper and adequate ventilation of classrooms; sufficient hand-washing facilities and water supply; operational clinic with sufficient supplies and equipment; and ample health and sanitation supplies and enforcement of health protocols.

The government, he added, must also employ additional teachers to be able to implement the ideal 35 maximum student class size and as well as more nurses and utility personnel for every school.

The health protection and benefits of teachers and school employees must also be ensured and aid for struggling families amid the economic crisis should also be provided.

Moreover, Quetua said that a learning assessment of students all over the country to be used as a gauge for the adjustments needed for the curriculum in the education recovery program must also be conducted.

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