Robredo calls for safe, inclusive education amid pandemic

MANILA, Philippines — Vice President Leni Robredo has joined other education stakeholders in calling for safe and inclusive education amid the pandemic.

In a recorded message yesterday at the launch of Movement for Safe, Equitable, Quality and Relevant Education, Robredo highlighted the challenges faced by students and teachers in adjusting to the blended learning setup.

“We are facing a lot of challenges. With the shift in the distance learning system, many parents and teachers are struggling. Not all students have the gadgets needed for online classes,” she said in Filipino.

“Not all homes have internet connectivity. Not all teachers have training on how to teach online. And not all parents have the ability to focus on their children’s education at home,” she added.

Ahead of the opening of classes in public schools on Oct. 5, Robredo said they will continue to call for the establishment of learning hubs in far-flung communities to ensure that children with no internet access will not be left behind.

The Vice President also pushed for capacity building for teachers, as well as for greater support for private schools struggling with low enrollment and requirements for new learning modalities.

Various organizations and education stakeholders have signed a manifesto outlining the priorities the government should consider ahead of the opening of classes.

These include providing adequate funding to subsidize education continuity in public schools, implementing preventive health measures in schools such as establishing handwashing facilities and hiring medical personal and ensuring health protection mechanisms and benefits for education workers.

The manifesto also called for provision of adequate learning resources and appropriate teaching and learning strategies, fair and appropriate systems of evaluation and grading, integration of education on pandemic in the curriculum; and provision of wage subsidy to teachers, especially those in affected private schools.

The demands include reviewing school fees in private schools, providing adequate support to parents or caregivers, ensuring online safety and mental health of teachers and learners, expanding government scholarships and financial assistance programs for students and conducting dialogue with stakeholders.

The movement’s convenors include educators, teachers and parents, as well as organizations such as the Alliance of Concerned Teachers, Council of Teachers and Staff of Colleges and Universities of the Philippines, the National Union of Students of the Philippines and the Pasig City Public Secondary School Teachers Federation.