Class opening bound for postponement if DepEd is not ready by July 15 by Senator Gatchalian

Senator Sherwin Gatchalian said he would recommend to postpone the opening of classes in August if the Department of Education (DepEd) is still not ready by July 15.

Photo credit: manilatimes.net

The DepEd needs to train at least 80 percent of the 800,000 public school teachers by the said date before they could say that the country is ready to open virtual and distance-learning classes on August 24, Gatchalian said in an online press conference.

Gatchalian said that we all see DepEd is doing their best, but we should be realistic. The scope is huge and we have many students in our country. If the department is not yet ready, the students may not learn anything and we are just wasting our funds. That is why DepEd should be undoubtedly ready.

DepEd officials told the Senate panel that only 40 percent of the country's 800,000 public school teachers have been trained to deliver lessons using the distance-learning approach as physical classes can't be done with the continuing pandemic.

Self-learning modules that the students need for home study have yet to be printed for 23 million students.

"I am giving them until July 15... At least man lang 80 pct compliance kasi by August printing at distribution na. Mahirap naman kung August na nagte-training pa tayo [ng teachers]," (I am giving them untill July 15... At least 80 percent compliance because by August they have to print and ready for distribution. It's hard if by August we are still training teachers.) Senator Gatchalian said.

Congress earlier passed a bill that allows the President to move the opening of classes beyond August in times of calamities or pandemics. And the President has yet to decide if he would move the opening of classes to a date beyond August 24.

Parents express their agreement on the matter, some says it is better to delay 1 year of schooling in exchange for the safety of their children.