DepEd assures safety of teachers, parents in delivering learning materials amid COVID-19 pandemic

On Wednesday, Department of Education (DepEd) said that it would not compromise the safety of its teachers and students in its decision to start the school year on August 24.

Photo credit: mb.com.ph

In response to Senator Sherwin Gatchalian's suggestion to delay the opening of classes in areas that would still be under modified enhanced community quarantine after August 18, Education Undersecretary Tonisito Umali gave the assurance at a Senate hearing.

Umali said, citing a directive made by Education Secretary Leonor Briones,

Hinding-hindi po natin [babalewalain] ang kaligtasan ng kahit sino man, maging ang ating mga guro, kawani ng ating kagawaran, lalong-lalo na po ng mga mag-aaral natin pati mga magulang sa ating desisyon na magpapatuloy ang August 24 school opening sa ating mga pampublikong paaralan, 

[We will never neglect the safety anyone - teachers, staff in our department, especially our students and parents- in our decision to push through with the August 24 school opening in our public schools.]

Gatchalian, chair of the Senate basic education committee, urged the DepEd to postpone the opening of classes in Metro Manila, Bulacan, Cavite, Laguna and Rizal if MECQ would be extended beyond August 18.

He worries that teachers and parents may be exposed to the risk of getting COVID-19 in the process of delivering learning materials to students at home.

But Umali said there would be no distribution of learning materials in areas under MECQ. The government put the capital to stricter lockdown from August 4 to 18 because of the continues increase of infection and to help the health care workers which was overwhelmed by the numbers of infected patient.

He added that there is no urgent need to deliver the learning materials during the first 2 weeks of the school year as the period would be dedicated for orientation and psycho-social interventions.

DepEd also has alternative work arrangements, where teachers are not obligated to physically report to schools, said Umali.

Education Undersecretary Nepomuceno Malaluan also said teachers in areas under MECQ are not forced to go out of their homes to distribute learning resources.

For the meantime, schools are set to deliver lessons to students through modules, online classes, radio and television in the new school year as face-to-face classes remain prohibited due to the ongoing threat of COVID-19.