IATF-EID sees June to August as too early for classes to resume, September is a more definite timeline for the Philippines.
September, eyed by IATF-EID for classes to resume
The Inter-Agency Task Force on Emerging Infectious Disease (IATF-EID) suggests that the Department of Education (DepEd) shall suspend classes up until September, to ensure that the COVID-19 crisis has been taken care of.
DepEd’s prior announcement was that classes are set to resume between June or August. But as for the assessment of IATF-EID on the current situation of the COVID-19 crisis in the country, it will be of best interest to prolong the suspension of classes up until September.
But according to the National Economic Development Authority (NEDA) acting secretary, Karl Chua, the proposal is based on the medical assessment of the inter-agency, but the decision still lies within the power of the DepEd.
Education officials will talk things out
Education Secretary, Leonor Briones, eyes for the resume of classes to be as early as August, such that students in the Philippines will not be that far behind on the academic calendar. But the assessment from the IATF-EID will be discussed among officials to determine the risk factors involved in coming up with a final decision.
Teacher’s Dignity Coalition chairperson, Benjo Basas, suggested that the DepEd shall hear out the recommendations from the inter-agency since they are more knowledgeable in such situations.
In case classes are set to resume at an earlier schedule, public schools will suffer the most. Public schools in the Philippines are statistically overcrowded in almost every region of the country, making social distancing a difficult task to impose.
As for the proposal on distance learning, multiple factors should be considered before applying them nationwide. Resources for learning materials intended for less fortunate students will be a big issue and concern for the department.
Featured image by PIA
