A lawmaker is pushing to delay the opening of classes either in August or September to allow the schools to recover from the impact of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic.
“Huwag po nating ipilit buksan ang school year sa June. Mabuti nang nag-iingat at daig ng maagap ang masipag,” ACT-CIS party-list Representative Jocelyn Tulfo said.
She urged the Department of Education, the Commission on Higher Education, the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority, and the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases to consider her proposal to “synchronize the opening of the new school year either in August or September.”
Tulfo in a statement said that an entire month must be devoted to decontaminate and disinfect all schools and sports facilities including dormitories utilized for COVID-19 response, GMA News reported.
“Maraming eskuwelahan ang kinailangang gamitin bilang staging area, relief goods distribution center, o temporary community quarantine facility. Marapat lamang na malinis nang maigi ang bawat sulok ng mga paaralan,” she said adding that Brigada Eskwela will not be enough to ensure that every classroom is disinfected and safe for use.
Tulfo stressed that the delay on opening of classes would also give the national and local governments time to work out on solution would be able to attend school despite the impact of the pandemic to the economy.
While, the lawmaker acknowledge the existing electronic voucher systems of education agencies in the country, she pointed out that the funding of these vouchers must be doubled or tripled so that it can also address the needs of students on transport and food.
