Education Sec. Leonor Briones commended World Vision’s worthy effort aimed at funding the reproduction of self-learning materials and gadgets to help thousands of students facing the new school year yet challenged by the coronavirus disease crisis.

Briones said that “education must continue” with or without the threat of the Covid19 pandemic because “it is perhaps the greatest legacy we can leave our learners and our children.”

“The health emergency has affected so many lives around the world and has damaged our education curriculum, class schedules and overturned the system of delivering learning to children,” Briones stressed.

As learning programs continue, the DepEd chief also said that the health, safety and well-being of learners, teachers and personnel must be protected. She also underscored the need to bridge the gap between tutors and students in distance learning through the ‘Abutin Na10 Campaign.’

“We hope we can come together and do the things we thought can never be accomplished… and let us support the implementation of the country’s Basic Education Learning Continuity Plan for our children through this Abutin Na10,” said DepEd Undersecretary Tonisito Umali.

World Vision chairperson and former Chief Justice Reynato Puno, for his part, said that the vision of ‘Abutin Na10’ is long term as the partnership seeks to contribute enduring solutions to the current gaps in education in the country.

The former SC chief justice revealed an alarming reality to most families who have become more vulnerable due to the pandemic. “From a rapid assessment conducted by World Vision, some parents are compelled to consider drastic measures like sending children to work or away from home that could possibly compromise their well-being including their education and protection,” he said

“Let us therefore help the state, represented by the Department of Education, to discharge its constitutional duty to protect and promote the right of all citizens to quality education at all levels, and also to take appropriate steps to make such education accessible to all,” Puno stressed.

He added: “To my fellow Filipinos, I encourage you to help our vulnerable children finish their education.”