Go calls for safe F2F classes by Nov.
I support all the decisions of the Executive and I believed that they can implement them well.
Daily TribuneI support all the decisions of the Executive and I believed that they can implement them well.
The government and school authorities should secure the safety of students when full face-to-face classes resume in November as the threat of coronavirus disease still exists.
This was the statement of Senator Christopher Lawrence "Bong" Go on Friday in response to the Department of Education Order 44, signed by Vice President and Education Secretary Sara Duterte last 17 October.
The DepEd order said all public and private schools shall implement five-day physical classes starting 2 November.
Go, who also chairs the Senate Committee on Health and Demography, has appealed for proper implementation of health guidelines for students during their F2F classes.
"I support all the decisions of the Executive and I believed that they can implement them well. However, I am once again appealing to the government and to the school authorities to ensure the health and wellness of our students when going back to school)," he said.
Go welcomed the positive development in the health situations of the country, especially in terms of battling the prevailing Covid-19 pandemic.
However, students, educators, and school officials, he said, should remain vigilant and adherent to the health protocols, especially amid the emerging Covid-19 variants and sub-lineages.
He, meanwhile, urged parents to include their children in the National Covid-19 Vaccination program "so that they can be more ready" to attend the in-person classes.
"As a parent, my priority is to protect the children. First of all, it cannot be denied that there are still those who have not been vaccinated. Second, we can't control their movements, and third, we might go back to zero again in case of infection," said in Filipino.
Go reminded school authorities to make certain that they efficiently and effectively implement necessary health and safety protocols.
He also expressed his confidence that, with proper guidance from DepEd and the Department of Health, the implementation of in-person classes will be a success and will open more opportunities for the country. Nevertheless, Go reiterated that the safety and welfare of students should always be a top priority.
"Let's keep them away from bad habits like illegal drugs, let's entice them into more productive activities like sports. Get into sports, and stay away from drugs. Let's guide them on the path to being good citizens for their parents, family, and country," he added.
Go said he is confident that the Department of Health and the DepEd will include the safety of the students against the dreaded virus in their top priorities.
The DepEd order also states that after 2 November, there will be no public school shall be allowed to implement purely distance learning or blended learning, except for those that are implementing alternative modes.
