VARIOUS groups and education stakeholders deplored President Rodrigo Duterte’s rejection of the proposal to allow limited physical classes in areas with low Covid19 risk.

They accused the President of not having a “clear roadmap” for the opening of School Year 2021-2022.

“The President has rejected at least three times the proposals to reopen schools in areas considered to be at low-risk for a Covid19 outbreak, without providing a clear roadmap on how and when it plans to do so,” the National Union of Students of the Philippines, Coalition for People’s Right to Health, Kabataan and ACT Teachers partylist groups, Amihan, Salinlahi, NNARA-Youth and Gabriela said in a joint statement.

The groups also criticized Duterte for failing to provide the necessary conditions for the safe delivery of accessible, high-quality education.

“Millions of youth and education workers will be again subjected to under-supported and onerous distance learning amidst the ranging pandemic and worsening economic crisis,” they added.

The Philippines is one of five countries that has not reopened schools.