Gatchalian: School opening should be risk-based

Senator Sherwin Gatchalian has called on the government to ensure that the opening of classes will be guided by a risk-based approach to guarantee the safety of students, parents, teachers, and other school personnel and prevent the spread of COVID-19 in schools and communities.

The chairman of the Senate Committee on Basic Education, Arts and Culture said measures such as the ban on mass gatherings should still be implemented even in areas that have no cases of COVID-19.

"What we want is for the government to innovate. Kailangang alalahanin natin na layon ng pagpapatuloy ng edukasyon ay ang pag-angat natin sa kinabukasan ng ating mga kabataan lalo na para sa mga nangangailangang mag-aaral (We must remember that the goal of continuing education is to uplift the future of the children.)," he said.

The Department of Education (DepEd) has clarified that learners will not necessarily attend physical or face-to-face classes when school year 2020-2021 starts.

DepEd's Learning Continuity Plan (LCP) has identified alternative modalities for learning delivery including online learning, television and radio-based instruction and printed packets. 

Gatchalian said ensuring the safety of learners need not sacrifice their continued learning and development, warning that prolonged school closures would have long-term adverse consequences.

 

He cited a World Bank Report titled "The COVID-19 Pandemic: Shocks to Education and Policy Responses," which showed that vulnerable and struggling learners are more prone to losing interest in school and dropping out. The same report said learners who drop out will face lower lifetime productivity and earnings.

The report cited the situation in Venezuela where an economic crisis led to an increase in the number of out-of-school youth by 56 percent between 2015 and 2017. 

In the United States, the real annual earnings and employment rates of less-educated workers fall more during recessions compared to their more educated counterparts.

Gatchalian also warned that when learners in public schools especially the disadvantaged ones are left with nothing to do they will lag behind their more socially advantaged peers and learners from private schools.