AN OFFICIAL of the Coordinating Council of Private Educational Associations (Cocopea) has appealed to President Rodrigo Duterte to allow experts from both public and private sectors to continue finding ways to educate students without asking them to go back to school physically.
Lawyer Joseph Manuel Estrada, COCOPEA managing director, said Duterte's plan to prevent students from returning to school unless a Covid-19 vaccine is found could put a strain and more pressure on the country’s already failing economy.
"While school personnel in the public school system are guaranteed of their salaries even on suspended classes, the private education school personnel of over half a million are not. They too are already suffering economically and their families as well," Estrada said in a statement.
On Monday night, May 25, 2020, Duterte told selected government officials during a meeting that he will not allow the opening of classes until a vaccine against the Covid-19 will be available.
In Cebu, some universities have been offering online classes for their students so that they can continue with their education from the confines of their homes.
Cerwin Eviota, public relations officer of the University of San Carlos (USC), said USC plans to offer online classes for summer but with limited lecture courses; while laboratory subjects will be offered at a later time when physical presence in schools will be allowed.
"Still tentative, by August for the first semester of SY 2020-2021, it may be a blended learning approach, a combination of online and classroom classes, according to, and this we must emphasize, whatever safety protocols will be implemented by the government." Eviota told Sunstar Cebu.
Meanwhile, University of Cebu (UC) Chancellor, Candice Gotianuy said UC has switched to online classes, temporarily, and has started its online enrollment to keep the students safe.
Gotianuy said their survey showed that majority of their students want a hybrid- online and on-site learning.
"We are coming up with ways to address our students' wishes and safety should the President reconsider (his plan not to reopen classes until a Covid-19 vaccine is available), “ she said.
Department of Education Central Visayas Director Salustiano Jimenez said he will wait for orders from their central office in Manila on whether to suspend the school year this coming August 24. (JCT)