With the planned resumption of 100 percent face-to-face classes this November, a group of education workers called on the government, particularly the Department of Education (DepED) to ensure the health and safety of both learners and teachers.

The Alliance of Concerned Teachers (ACT) Philippines said this in a statement issued Monday, Oct. 3, following the confirmation from DepED of teachers and learners who tested positive for Covid-19.

“The government has to invest in the health and safety of our teachers and learners if it wants education to effectively recover through the 100 percent resumption of in-person learning,” said ACT Philippines Chairperson Vladimer Quetua.

Last week, DepED Spokesperson Michael Poa confirmed reports of learners, teaching, and non-teaching staff who have tested positive since the resumption of face-to-face classes this school year.

However, DepED has yet to release an exact or “accurate figure” because it needs to verify the information with local governments and the data of the Department of Health (DOH).

READ:

https://mb.com.ph/2022/09/30/deped-confirms-reports-of-learners-personnel-who-tested-positive-for-covid-19/

“We have said it before, that the DepED’s COVID-19 prevention policy is a ‘recipe for disaster’ as it lacked substantive measures to reduce risks of infection such as clear plans on how to provide the necessary health facilities, equipment, supplies and personnel,” Quetua said.

READ:

https://mb.com.ph/2022/07/14/group-calls-depeds-guidelines-on-face-to-face-classes-a-recipe-for-disaster/

The reports that Covid-19 cases in schools, ACT said, were expected “given the poor health measures” that DepED implements in public schools in-person classes resumed this school year.

ACT noted that mandatory wearing of face masks and distancing was instructed by DepEd despite the cramped state of classrooms in public schools.

The earlier guidelines set by DepED, Quetua said, only relied on “parent’s judgement to prevent entry in schools of symptomatic learners, and burdens teachers of monitoring, reporting, sanitation and disinfection work.”

In September, DepED issued updated guidelines on health and safety protocols in schools amid the pandemic to support the implementation of face-to-face classes and strengthen efforts related to the prevention of Covid-19 and other infectious diseases.

READ:

https://mb.com.ph/2022/09/23/deped-issues-updated-health-safety-protocols-in-schools-amid-the-covid-19-pandemic/

ACT slammed the new issuance which was only released “a month into face-to-face” and essentially reiterated the “deficient health measures.”

In the new issuance, ACT said that DepEd added some specific guidelines on how to position electric fans, and how many hand-washing facilities should be installed, which is also too few while pointing schools to the local government units for funding requirements.

“As in the earlier guidelines, schools are left to craft their own containment plan and the DepEd is absolved of any responsibility over infection in schools,” Quetua noted.

READ:

https://mb.com.ph/2022/08/14/deped-to-require-each-school-to-come-up-with-a-covid-19-infection-control-plan/