Vice President and Education chief Sara Duterte considers the resumption of in-person classes in the present school year the biggest accomplishment of her office, citing the benefits of face-to-face classes to students.
She said this as her office prepares the report for her 100 days as vice president and Education secretary.
“Ang pinakamahalaga na masasabi ko na nagawa natin (The most important that I can say we did) as a country is naibalik natin iyong ating (we were able to bring back the) in-person classes sa ating mga eskwelahan (in our schools),” she said during an interview at an event where she and the Qatar Embassy in Manila distributed FIFA bags to daycare children in Mandaluyong City.
The Vice President cited studies that showed the “many benefits” of in-person classes to students.
READ: Resumption of face-to-face classes a ‘victory’ for Filipino students — VP Sara
"Kaya napakahalaga na naibalik natin ang (That’s why it’s very important that we were able to return the) option na iyon sa ating mga eskwelahan na mag-conduct ng (that our schools conduct) 5-days in person classes," Duterte added.
Filipino students returned to school on Aug. 22 after more than two years of online classes due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
Though it is not until November that the government mandates students to return to in-person classes, it was earlier said that schools and teachers should use September and October for the transition.
READ: DepEd chief VP Sara eyes full face-to-face classes by November—Marcos
The Vice President earlier underscored the benefits of face-to-face classes, noting also the measures—vaccines, face masks, and medicines—now available.