SENATOR Sherwin Gatchalian on Monday opposed calls for an academic break, saying poor and vulnerable learners will be left behind.

While he acknowledged that the decision to implement an academic break lies with education institutions, he said that additional disruptions would adversely affect students who have struggled since the pandemic began.

The lawmaker also warned of exacerbated effects linked to prolonged school closures such as learning loss, widening inequalities, and increased exposure to violence, among others.

“I don’t agree with the call to implement a nationwide academic break. Iba-iba naman ang quarantine qualification at may mga lugar na walang lockdown. Mahirap naman pong mag-academic freeze sa isang lugar na walang kaso ng Covid19. Kaya hindi puwede itong academic freeze para sa pangkalahatan dahil iba-iba ang sitwasyon,” Gatchalian said.

“Sa basic education, isang taon nang hindi nagpupunta sa mga eskuwelahan ang mga bata at kapag sila ay patuloy na bibigyan ng break at hindi sila mag-aaral, talagang makakalimutan na nila ang kanilang pinag-aralan,” he added.

In Isabela, which is under General Community Quarantine, the Department of Education suspended the distribution and retrieval of self-learning modules and other face-to-face activities after five DepEd personnel died of Covid19.

Meanwhile, some colleges and universities in the National Capital Region and nearby provinces suspended classes or implemented academic ease measures due to the rising number of Covid19 cases.

These include the University of Santo Tomas, Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila, Cavite State University, and De La Salle University.

Gatchalian said that while the NCR Plus has been placed under Modified Enhanced Community Quarantine until the end of the month, most areas in the country is under General Community Quarantine and Modified General Community Quarantine — where distance or flexible learning can continue.