DepEd claims victory over COVID-19 as classes start

By CNN Philippines Staff, 5 Oct 2020

Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, October 5) — Education Secretary Leonor Briones on Monday claimed government’s win over the COVID-19 pandemic as over 22 million students from public schools return to school — sans face-to-face classes — despite the outcry of teachers and parents facing multiple challenges.

The Department of Education officially opened academic year 2020-2021 for 47,000 public schools nationwide through blended learning after it rejected appeals for an academic freeze or postponement of school opening.

Classes were supposed to open in early June but the start was pushed back twice to October 5 following appeals from teachers, students, parents, and several school officials. However, concerns persist on the safety and accessibility of the new modes of learning. Slow internet connection and lack of gadgets hamper the learning of some children. Because of those issues, some parents chose modular learning, but teachers are burdened with the distribution of printed material — not to mention the dangers of COVID-19 infection when they go out to communities.

“Today we celebrate a great victory, we declare our victory over COVID-19… We will not allow COVID-19 to destroy our children’s education and their future,” Briones said during DepEd’s online event.

She said education cannot be postponed despite the raging COVID-19 crisis. She urged critics to stop the debates on DepEd’s decision.

“Araw-araw may bagong krisis at bagong pagkukulang. Paghihintayin ba namin kayong magaaral?” she said. “Kahit mahirap, gagawin. Hindi tayo maghihintay. Kailangang ipagpatuloy ang pag-aaral, kailangan igapang natin maski maraming challenges.”

[Translation: There are crisis and constant challenges. Even if it’s hard, we need to do it. We cannot wait any longer. We need to resume classes even if there are challenges.]

President Rodrigo Duterte congratulated DepEd for finally opening the school year. He said this could be a start of a wider use of online learning even with the end of the pandemic.

“This is a momentous occasion because it is pushing through despite global health crisis due to COVID-19. (It is) a challenging frontier not only for students and teachers, but also for guardians and parents,” he said in a recorded message.

Classes will end on June 11, 2021.