MANILA – President Rodrigo Duterte may allow the implementation of face-to-face classes in low-risk locations, according to Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque.
Roque stated that the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF) is set to propose a plan to Duterte regarding the opening of physical classes, particularly in areas with less coronavirus diseases (Covid-19) cases.
“We agreed that a small group will present to the President. So it’s not really a Cabinet meeting — that is important but ‘yung (the) small group, that in principle, the AITF has agreed to — will make that presentation to the President,” he said during a Palace press briefing.
According to Roque, Duterte is considering the launch of face-to-face classes in places where Covid-19 transmission is considered to be minimal.
“He may allow it pero dapat pilot muna ang areas na mababa talaga ang kaso (He may allow it but it must be piloted in areas with low cases) so that we could — as I said pilot it, and see if it works, then, it can be implemented in other areas,” he said.
Roque stated that he would like to meet with Duterte in an “intimate” setting to discuss the subject.
“The issue of face-to-face classes has been seen to be a purely education issue. It is a multi-disciplinary issue now involving the health department because of mental health issues, effect on the children, and the lack of socialization on the children as well an economic problem because we are dealing with the generation that could possibly be lost as a result of hybrid na ini-implement natin (that we are implementing),” he said.
The meeting’s schedule is already set, according to Roque.
“I want to schedule it as early as possible but we’re coordinating kasi (because) useless to discuss it in a body like a Cabinet meeting I want it to be an intimate meeting with the president just about the topic,” he said.
Given the threat posed by the Delta coronavirus variant, Duterte previously stated that once the country obtains population protection against Covid-19, he will allow in-person classes to resume.
The Department of Education (DepEd) began the school year 2020-2021 in October of last year by providing online learning, television and radio-based education, modular and blended learning, which is a combination of two or more learning methods.
