SENATOR Sherwin Gatchalian on Friday said that the country should prepare for the holding of face-to-face classes in low risk areas as the government eased pandemic restrictions, citing the experiences of other countries.

Gatchalian referred to the study made by Northern Ireland’s Public Health Agency which found that schools are not a major source of Covid19 infection.

He said that it was similar to the study made by the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

The chairman of the Senate Committee on Basic Education, Arts and Culture also took note of the assessment of the University of Warwick that schools do not appear to play a big role in spreading coronavirus. Researchers found that the absences incurred by teachers and pupils matched infection rates in the wider community, with no evidence that schools were a major driver of cases.

“Kung susuriin natin ang karanasan at mga pag-aaral sa ibang bansa, makikita natin na posible ang ligtas na pagbubukas ng mga paaralan habang patuloy ang pagpapatupad ng health protocols tulad ng physical distancing, pagsusuot ng mask, at regular na paghuhugas ng kamay,” he said.

The senator maintained that the safe reopening of schools should be part of the country’s recovery efforts.

Based on the University of the Philippines’ Covid19 tracker, some 433 municipalities had zero active cases as of February 9.

“Habang hinihintay natin ang bakuna, puwede na nating paghandaan ang pagbubukas ng mga paaralan sa mga lugar na walang kaso o may kaunting kaso ng Covid19 para maihanda din ng mga mag-aaral at mga kawani ang kanilang mga sarili matapos ang halos isang taong pananatili sa bahay,” Gatchalian said.

The United Nations Children’s Fund had warned  that prolonged school closures have long-term devastating effects such as learning losses and inequalities, increased number of dropouts, surge in cases of violence and abuse, and mental distress.