Duterte: No vaccine, no classes

Last updated on May 18th, 2021 at 05:16 am

Manila – President Rodrigo Duterte on Monday, May 25, rejected calls to open the upcoming school year in August, contrary to Deped’s announcement that it could resume classes in areas with eased quarantine protocols.

“I will not allow the opening of classes where students are close to one another. Never mind if they can’t finish, [if] for this generation, there will be no student who will finish as a doctor or engineer. No more studies, just play unless I am sure they are really safe.” Duterte said in a weekly public address taped on Monday night.

“I will not allow the opening of classes where students are close to one another. Never mind if they can’t finish, [if] for this generation, there will be no student who will finish as a doctor or engineer. No more studies, just play unless I am sure they are really safe.” Duterte said

Education Secretary Leonor Briones said that the resumption of classes does not require physical attendance of students, an indication that online classes is a viable option. Several areas in the country are under a modified enhanced community quarantine, while others are under a general community quarantine.

Teachers also backs the President’s decision as allowing the classes to resume  could put children and the safety of their families at risk.

Several lawmakers are pushing for the postponement of class openings until the vaccine for Covid-19 has been developed “DepEd should postpone the resumption of classes this year instead of resorting to virtual classrooms which would only prejudice students who are not equipped with e-learning gadgets and could not afford to have any internet connection,” Ang Probinsyano Party-list Rep. Ronnie Ong said in a statement.