A party-list legislator on Wednesday welcomed the decision of the education authorities to move the opening of classes to August or later due to the disruption caused by the COVID-19 virus.
ACT-CIS Rep. Jocelyn Tulfo said schools should be given time to recover from the impact of the coronavirus disease 2019 situation.
Tulfo earlier recommended to 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 “synchronize the opening of the new school year either in August or September” on a trial basis.
“Do not start the school year in June. It is better to err on the side of caution,” she said.
“Many schools are being used as staging areas or relief goods distribution center, or temporary community quarantine facility. These should be cleaned thoroughly,” she added.
The week-long Brigada Eskwela, Tulfo said, will not be enough to ensure that every school and classroom is disinfected, clean, and safe for use.
She said an entire month should be devoted for decontamination of all school and sports facilities, including dormitories, that were used for COVID-19 response measures.
At the same time, Tulfo said delaying the opening of classes would also allow the national and the local governments to come up with solutions to ensure that every student will be able to attend school amid the economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. Maricel V. Cruz
While all education agencies have existing electronic voucher systems, there may be a need to double or triple the funding for these considering the situation, she said.
She added that the government could also give food and transport fare vouchers for students who may need them.
“I ask the Departments of Finance and of Budget and Management, and the education agencies to recommend to Congress a Pantawid Edukasyon conditional cash transfer program for all students in the low income and lower-middle income brackets,” Tulfo said.
“It would be easy for families in financial distress because of COVID-19 to stop sending their kids to school. Government must assure them that they must keep their kids in school and government will be there to help because it is a must,” she added.
