A Catholic bishop in the southern Philippines said schools should start looking into the possibility of shifting to online classes.
Bishop Rex Andrew Alarcon of Daet said online classes are the safest mode of education during the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.
He said that a shift to a new approach to teach “may become necessary” in the coming months.
“If congregating together continues to become a risk, online classes clearly becomes the safe mode,” said Bishop Alarcon, chairman of the Episcopal Commission on Youth of the bishops’ conference.
“There is much to be done,” he said. “Shift yes, we should start. It has started actually but not big steps yet,” added the bishop.
He noted that “many are not prepared financially, technologically, pedagogically.”
“As of the moment schools, administrators and teachers are doing their best to adjust. The capability of our providers is another concern,” he added.
The Department of Education earlier announced that School Year 2020 to 2021 will open on August 24, either through physical or virtual classes.
