While the Department of Education (DepED) has allowed the voluntary use of face masks inside the classrooms, teachers' groups on Wednesday, Nov. 2, urged teachers and students alike to continue wearing face masks for their protection.
“Face masks are our last line of defense vs Covid and other diseases,” the Alliance of Concerned Teachers (ACT) Philippines said in a statement.
On Nov. 1, the day before the full implementation of full in-person classes in public schools, DepED Spokesperson Michael Poa said “schools may immediately implement optional masking indoors” pursuant to Executive Order No. 7 which allows the voluntary wearing of face masks in indoor and outdoor settings.
READ:
https://mb.com.ph/2022/11/01/deped-allows-voluntary-use-of-face-masks-in-classrooms/
However, ACT pointed out that the situation in the classroom is “very precarious to infection” due to several factors.
For instance, ACT said that many public schools have a shortage in facilities --- particularly classrooms --- which leads to overcrowding or congestion of learners.
The group also noted that many public schools do not have “proper ventilation” and there are also schools without schools nurse or no functional clinics with ample supplies.
ACT also noted that there was no Covid-19 testing done before face-to-face classes.
“There is no support for those who will get infected,” ACT said. “We are left with the face mask as the only remaining protection of teachers and learners,” the group added.
Given these, ACT slammed the government for not ensuring a 100 percent safe return to schools.
“It is very irresponsible for the government to leave our schools in such a state, and even more thoughtless to strip our students and teachers of the last protection that we have, however insufficient it is,” ACT said.
The Teachers’ Dignity Coalition (TDC), in a separate statement, also encouraged teachers and learners to continue wearing masks, especially inside the classroom especially with the full implementation of face-to-face classes starting Nov. 2.
“Iba naman ang sitwasyon sa school, congested at hindi naman well-ventilated ang marami sa classrooms natin (The situation at school is different, many of our classrooms are congested and not well-ventilated),” TDC National Chairperson Benjo Basas said. Basas, who is also a public school teacher, advised his students to “still wear face masks” for their protection.
“Walang available na water and sanitation facilities, imposible na ang physical distancing, kaya magsuot na lang ng face masks sa loob ng room” (There are no water and sanitation facilities available, physical distancing is impossible, so just wear face masks inside the room),” Basas said.
Meanwhile, ACT underscored the urgent need to install school health and safety facilities and measures remain as the country is in a pandemic.
ACT said that building resiliency in schools is also very crucial. “The need to decongest our classrooms is central not only to health but to education quality as well,” it added.
Moreover, ACT urged the government to “first build confidence on the health and safety situation of schools before doing away with the face masks.”
RELATED STORY:
https://mb.com.ph/2022/11/02/first-day-of-return-to-full-face-to-face-classes-orderly-so-far-deped/