PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte recently approved limited face-to-face classes in a maximum of 120 public and private schools that are considered low-risk for Covid-19.
The Malacañang announcement also stated that “face-to-face classes in these schools will be held for only half a day, every other week.”
In addition, “the participating schools must have the written support and consent of parents of students who shall participate in the pilot program. No student shall be "forced to attend" the pilot implementation of face-to-face classes,” said the Department of Education.
Did you know that before the approval, the Philippines and Venezuela are the only two remaining countries in the world where classes are done remotely since the World Health Organization declared a pandemic in March 2020?
Personally, I was surprised with this information. So, I asked Dabawenyos from other countries how it is like to have face-to-face or in-person classes during this “new normal.”
Pinky Barcelona-Ruggiero, mom-of-three (Italy)
“At the height of the pandemic, when kids were having classes online, there were protests here in Italy, especially in big cities like Milan and Rome, with teachers, professors, and parents participating. They believed that kids were not getting the proper education with online classes.
Working parents also protested because it was harder for them to work. Some had to leave their kids alone at home while they went out to work. Others believed at first that kids were immune to the virus. But for us, we preferred distance learning then because it was safer for our children.
A few months after, our kids had face-to-face classes beginning September 2020 till early June this year. Classes started again last September 13, 2021. My boys, Vincent and Andrea, have gotten used to being swabbed because every time someone is Covid positive in class, the whole class including teachers need to be swabbed, too. Each time this happens, they switch to distance learning.
The boys bring extra masks and hand sanitizers to school, too. They can only remove their masks during recess while eating snacks, and still observing social distancing. The school, through the government, also gives a regular supply of surgical masks. Each pack contains 30 masks.
Hopefully, things will be better for all of us now that the majority of the population are vaccinated. My youngest Izzie is still 10. I am waiting for kids below 12 to get vaccinated as well.”
Elma Villagonzalo-Takahashi, mom-of-two (Japan)
“All schools here in Japan are back to in-person classes since last year. We only had a two-month school break at the beginning of the Covid-19 outbreak and a week after the summer vacation this year because the cases surged again after the 2020 Olympic Games last August.
Only a handful of private and public schools have online classes for some reason. Schools do not impose strict protocols like swab testing. If a student does not feel well, he or she is just advised to call the school and take a rest. This is a normal thing even before the pandemic.
Though schools here do set some new rules, I do not think it is as strict as it is in other countries. Some of these new rules include how school lunches are served. In public schools where school lunches are available, they serve them in the hallway instead of doing it inside the classrooms, obviously to avoid congestion.
Having lunch in groups is discouraged; as well as having conversations. Except for these few new rules, everything is normal. Sanitation is strictly observed in all schools (starting from kindergarten) even before the pandemic. Washing of hands before and after eating, wearing masks when not feeling well is not new for the students. It’s just that now, everybody must wear masks.”
Aaron Luigi Teves, Grade 9 student (Canada)
“Face-to-face classes in Canada started last year. We have a limited number of students in a classroom. For example, for Math, there are only 20 students. And in a day, we have four subjects, namely: Arts, Math, English, and Social Studies. We wear masks all the time except for lunch. And in each classroom, gym, and library, there is always alcohol or alcohol spray. As for our desks, someone sanitizes them at the end of the day.
Another rule that Canada uses to lessen Covid spreading in schools is for lunch, you are not allowed to have more than 3 people per table and no walking in the halls. Lastly, if you eat in a classroom, there can only be 10 people per classroom. So far, my in-person class experience is great!”
Pamela Villa Abrille-Santos, mom-of-two (USA)
“In-person classes for elementary, middle school and high schools in New York City just started last Sept 13, 2021. This was after 16 months of straight remote learning. The kids are happy to be back in school.
Every day, students need to submit a health screener questionnaire online or in person to determine whether they can enter the school building or not. All students 12 and above are required to be vaccinated to attend school as well. A consent form also needs to be filled out for Covid-19 testing to be done every week. Students and all school staff are required to wear masks.
If a student tests positive for Covid, he or she is required to be quarantined for several days and will not be allowed in school until cleared to do so. The principal of every school sends guidelines under the directive of NYC’s Department of Education. They also change from time to time and vary from other states.
For example, at my son Tristan’s school where he is in 4th grade, they limit the class to 24 students and are socially distanced. They eat lunch in their classrooms instead of at their school cafeteria and have to wash/sanitize hands prior and after eating. On the other hand, my daughter Scarlett who is in middle school (8th grade), does not transfer classrooms anymore. Instead, the teachers go to their classrooms to minimize crowding in the hallways per period. It’s just like regular school for them both except they wear masks all day and the testing and proof of health.
So far, so good. We got a sense of normalcy back but it’s not really the same. We are of course still practicing caution and living life as much as we can. We thank God for every waking day for it is still such a blessing despite what is happening in the world right now.”
Photos courtesy of the interviewees, pikisuperstar and www.freepik.com.
E-mail the author at mom.about.town.dvo@gmail.com. Visit http://momabouttowndavao.blogspot.com/.