THE ALLIANCE  of Concerned Teachers relaunched its Covid19 Hotline Assistance for Teachers in Private Schools-Bantay Ligtas na Balik-Paaralan project to address the concerns of academic and non-academic personnel on the preparations and resumption of face-to-face classes.

The group reiterated its call for regular Covid19 testing for learners, teachers and staff once in-person classes resume.

“We would like to cautiously remind the Duterte administration to prioritize policies safeguarding the health of the students and school personnel and to allocate adequate funds to support private education institutions, particularly on the hazard pay and medical benefits of the employees,” said Dr. Jonathan Geronimo, Secretary-General of ACT Private Schools.

“It is crucial that this shall include special vaccination programs and comprehensive mitigation or contamination plans, accommodating all worst possibilities including immediate isolation and subsidized treatment for those who will be infected from the virus,” he added.

The group also stressed the need to engage all education stakeholders through consultations to guarantee that all concerns are consolidated, represented and addressed.

It said that the success of the pilot run of face-to-face classes will be integral to the eventual reopening of schools.

“Complacency should have no place in all of this. We shall continue to press on with vigilance, making a resounding and clear demand to the government that this resumption is long overdue and that the public desires an inclusive, transparent, and humane approach to make this a true success. Ipaglaban ang kalusugan, karapatan at kabuhayan ng mga guro at kawani sa private schools sa pagbabalik-paaralan nito,” Geronimo said.