Plea of senators to reconsider face-to-face classes rebuked by student group

Some senators has suggested to the Department of Education (DepEd) to consider reopening schools for in-person classes despite the presence of Covid-19. Following the senators’ plea, on Wednesday, the Samahan ng Progresibong Kabataan (SPARK) denounced the matter.

That the government can conclude — in light of the healthcare sector on its knees and the lack of mass testing and proper contract tracing — that the country’s ‘dramatically improved’ COVID-19 situation may allow for the resumption of physical classes is a demonstration of pure delusion,

said SPARK in a statement.

The youth group questioned how can the government guarantee the learners safety during the physical classes when general health and education infrastructure are lacking.

Until there is no presence of greater health infrastructures in schools and free mass testing and contract tracing are properly implemented, the lives of not just the students alone but also their families and teachers will be at stake if the resumption of physical classes is immediately implemented,

SPARK said.

The group also pointed out the lack of proper public transportation to serve the students, teachers, and other personnel.

They also has raised a question as to how DepEd and the entire Duterte regime will take accountability if the students become carriers of the virus.