AS THE pilot run of face-to-face classes begins next week, Makabayan Chairperson Neri Colmenares urged the Department of Health and the Department of Education to implement stricter measures to prevent Covid19 breakout in the classroom.

While there are provisions for basic safety such as face masks and wash facilities, he said these can be improved by implementing mass testing for all those joining the pilot run.

“I support the call of concerned teachers and students for the inclusion of free rapid antigen tests as part of the requirements for face-to-face classes. It’s worth noting that the US Center for Disease Control encourages this. Schools in Singapore, Thailand and Japan implemented free testing among students as part of their safety protocols,” Colmenares said.

“Kung kaya magbigay ng subsidiyo ang Department of Tourism para sa swab testing ng mga turista, mas lalong dapat magkaroon ng libreng testing para sa mga guro, estudyante at iba pang kalahok sa pilot testing ng face-to-face classes. Hindi ba dapat bigyan din natin sila ng parehong halaga?” he said.

Mass testing, he added, should also be done at the tertiary level as some college students resume limited face-to-face classes.

Free testing will allow unvaccinated students to join the limited classroom learning, which is currently offered only to vaccinated students and teachers, he said.

“Even as everyone wants a safe reopening of schools, the DOH, DepEd, and the Commission on Higher Education should reconsider their stand ignoring the need for testing. The last thing we want now is to relapse into ECQ season four,” he stressed.