By Raphaella Sarangaya

Re-opening of schools and limited face-to-face classes began in COVID low-risk areas on Monday, November 15—almost two years after the closure of educational institutions.

A total of 100 public schools out of 48,000 public schools joined the pilot run that will run for two months as approved by President Rodrigo Duterte. On the other hand, 30 private schools will begin limited face-to-face classes on November 22. 

“Almost all participating schools are ready for the pilot study on November 15, 2021. On average, most of them are basically on a 90% above preparation,” said Education Assistant Secretary Malcolm Garma in a press briefing on November 9.

Despite this, several groups, including education and health advocates, called for additional health protection measures to build the confidence of students and teachers in the safety of reopening in-person classes. 

The Department of Education (DepEd) also reminded its regional units to strictly keep schools as “zones of peace” after armed police officers were seen patrolling in Longos Elementary School in Alaminos City, Pampanga. 

Five demands that should be met by the government to ensure the safety of students, teachers, and parents were listed by these groups:

• Weekly COVID-19 antigen testing to screen all learners, teachers, and staff who will participate in the classroom face-to-face learning;
• Special vaccination program in areas where schools that will participate in the pilot run of face-to-face classes are located;
• Retrofitting of classrooms to ensure better ventilation, with each having a minimum of two electric fans, and air-conditioned rooms having air filters;
• Mass hiring of school nurses; and
• Medical fund for free treatment of those who will get infected with COVID-19.

However, officials of DepED said that COVID-19 testing, specifically the process of nasal, nasopharyngeal, or oropharyngeal swabbing, would be traumatic for young students. 

An easier and faster option that will not cause any pain and discomfort to many is saliva-based COVID-19 testing, a method that has been approved by the Health Department for use since January 2021.

Among the schools that have begun conducting face-to-face classes, schools in Metro Manila were not included. Although, local government units in Metro Manila were among the several who appealed to include their schools in the pilot run. 

The Philippines is the last country in the world to open classroom doors to both students and teachers for face-to-face classes since the World Health Organization (WHO) declared a pandemic in March 2020. 

References:

Abad, M. (2021, November 15). IN PHOTOS: Opening of limited face-to-face classes in the Philippines. Rappler. https://www.rappler.com/nation/photos-opening-limited-face-to-face-classes-philippines-november-2021

Magsambol, B. (2021, November 14). PH resumes face-to-face classes in select areas after nearly 2 years of lockdown. Rappler. https://www.rappler.com/nation/philippines-resumes-face-to-face-classes-after-nearly-two-years-pandemic-lockdown

Photo Source: Jonathan Cellona, ABS-CBN News