A TEACHERS’ group expressed dismayed on the further reduction of the number participating schools in the pilot run of limited face-to-face classes of the Department of Education (DepEd).

Alliance of Concerned Teachers ( ACT) cited that the steady decline in DepEd’s target from about 1,000 to 500, 120, 59, and finally to just 30 schools reveals a ‘defeatist trend’ that may ‘very well lead to never re-opening schools.’ The group pressed the government to ‘build confidence’ instead among stakeholders by addressing their valid concerns.

“While it’s unfortunate that the already conservative target of 120 schools upon its approval was further reduced to a mere 30, it is understandable that many are still scared and unprepared to try out physical classes amid the pandemic. After all, nearly two years into this pandemic, the government has not implemented sound responses to the health crisis and only instilled fear through its militarist lockdown, while leaving us to die either by COVID-19 or hunger. ” said ACT Secretary General Raymond Basilio in a statement on Wednesday.

He added that crucial to inspiring confidence among key actors in education is the installment of strong health protection measures for the implementation of limited face-to-face classes in public schools.

The group noted that its operational guidelines, detailed in JMC No.1, s.2021 of DepEd-DOH, can further be improved through additional necessary protective measures, which include:

• Active case-finding through testing at least 10% of a barangay population to ensure accuracy of the low/minimal risk classification, especially as these far-flung areas are already known to have limited testing and treatment capacity;

• Daily antigen testing of teachers and learners who will participate in in-classroom learning;

• Deployment of nurse or any health personnel in participating schools;

• Hiring of sanitation peronnel;

• Treatment support for those who may get infected with COVID-19 during the course of the pilot run;

• Hazard pay for participating education workers.

• Ample funding provision from the national government.

“These measures can substantially reduce the anxiety of teachers, parents, students, and LGUs who will partake in voluntary and limited face-to-face classes, and will increase the chances of successfully running the pilot, which will then pave the way for more schools to re-open as soon as possible.

ACT reiterated that it is the duty of the national government to exhaust all measures to enable local stakeholders to successfully implement the ‘long overdue’ physical re-opening of schools. The group urged DepEd to push the Duterte admin to provide ample support for the conduct of face-to-face classes.