Several members of the Philippine Senate called on Education officials to look for alternatives to the proposal of President Rodrigo Duterte not to open schools this year because of the coronavirus pandemic.
“Let us see to it that even if the schools are locked down, education is not placed in quarantine,” said Senator Ralph Recto.
“Let us find the mix that will allow the 30 million children of the country to continue with their education without putting them in harm’s way,” said the legislator.
Duterte has earlier announced that he will not agree to the resumption of classes if there is no available vaccine for the new coronavirus disease.
Recto, however, said failure to work around the virus will spawn a “lost generation” that will hurt the future of the country.
But opposition Senator Risa Hontiveros said Duterte was correct in prohibiting the opening of classes, saying the safety of children must be considered.
“I can’t imagine risking the life and health of our children. We have to postpone the opening of classes as we think of alternative infrastructures of home-based learning,” she said.
