The Department of Education is already preparing to vaccinate teachers, Education Secretary Leonor Briones said Thursday.
According to Briones, he is already in contact with vaccine czar Carlito Galvez in this regard.
“Ang sabi niya (Galvez), most likely second quarter maaano na ‘yong sa teachers kasi inuuna iyong frontliners. Saka sa second quarter dadating na iyong ibang mga commitments, iyong ibang vaccines,” said Briones.
“May schedule na, may bilang na ang teachers, tapos taking into consideration our advocacy for pilot study [ng face-to-face classes],” the DepEd secretary added.
But the secretary did not detail when or how many teachers will be vaccinated.
DepEd is now pushing for the conduct of a pilot test of limited face-to-face classes in some schools in the country to address the challenges faced in distance learning.
“Any time that the president says go, go kami kaagad,” the DepEd chief said.
A total of 1,579 schools have been nominated for the pilot test but according to officials, the number of schools that will participate in it is smaller.
DepEd prepares for vaccination of teachers
Despite having limited face-to-face classes, distance learning will still remain, according to Education Undersecretary Diosdado San Antonio.
“Ito kasing may limited face-to-face, siya iyong totoong blended, na talagang nagkikita ang teacher at ang bata paminsan-minsan,” San Antonio explained.
Briones stressed that the blessing and cooperation of the local government unit and parents in the areas that will conduct face-to-face classes is important for the agency.
“We’d like to assure the parents na we will not involve the children in the pilot if they still have worries and concerns,” she said.
In an interview with TeleRadyo, an association of private schools said they agree with the issue of face-to-face classes.
But the tuition hike is feared if the government cannot provide assistance.
“I cannot say na wala ‘yang cost implication pati ‘yong mga binabanggit nating medical assistance… lahat po ‘yan kung pababayaan lang natin na private schools, ang gagastos siyempre maipapasa ‘yan sa mga estudyante kaya nga po kami ay nanawagan sa gobyerno ng economic intervention,” said Coordinating Council of Private Educational Associations (COCOPEA) Managing Director Joseph Noel Estrada.