In a televised address last Monday night (May 25), President Rodrigo Duterte said that he will not risk the lives of students by reopening classes without a vaccine. Moreover, the president declared that classes will remain suspended until a vaccine for Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID19) is made available.
“I will not allow the opening of classes na magdikit dikit ‘yang mga bata. Bahala nang hindi na makatapos. For this generation walang makatapos na doktor pati engineer,” states President Rodrigo Duterte.
“Wala nang aral, laro na lang unless I am sure that they are really safe. It’s useless to be talking about the opening of classes. Para sa akin, bakuna muna,” adds Duterte.
It can be recalled that the Department of Education eyed the reopening of classes on August 24. The school year will start on August 24, 2020, and will end on April 30, 2021, according to Education Secretary Leonor Briones in a virtual press briefing. The decision was made through extensive consultation with stakeholders and has been reported to the Inter-Agency Task Force on Emerging Infectious Disease, an ad hoc body that guides the government’s efforts in battling the current pandemic.
Briones also clarified that not all teachers and students will physically report to schools once classes start. However, they will be implementing various approaches in teaching – through technology-mediated learning.
I think by the grace of God we will have the vaccine before the end of the year so mag-asa na lang tayo sa mga marunong. They are feverously working on it. ‘Pag nandiyan na yan, ako na ang magsabi labas na,” Duterte adds.
Watch the announcement here, uploaded by the Inquirer:
