WITH more schools allowed to hold face-to-face classes, the Anti-Red Tape Authority appealed not to impose added burden to parents by requiring their children to be vaccinated against Covid19.

ARTA Director-General Jeremiah Belgica noted even Education Secretary Leonor Briones clarified that while getting Covid19 jabs is encouraged for everyone, it is not mandatory.

“In other words, children are not required to get the vaccine before being able to attend their classes,” Belgica said.

“We in ARTA support this clarification made by Education Secretary Briones,” he added.

He reiterated schools, colleges, and other educational institutions must be reminded the students’ parents are the ones to decide on whether they will have their children inoculated or not.

“ARTA will continue to monitor the situation on the ground to ensure that no educational institution is forcing students to submit additional requirements,” the official stressed.

“Should they be caught doing so, they may be held liable for violation of Republic Act No. 11032 or the Ease of Doing Business and Efficient Government Service Delivery Act of 2018,” he added.

Belgica also called on public servants as well as private stakeholders to make this period a safe, enjoyable, and comfortable time for students by not imposing an undue regulatory burden on them.

“Three years since the Covid-19 pandemic struck the country, we at ARTA are happy to see the Filipino youth now able to physically attend their classes,” he said.

“I am calling on. Let us not further hamper the education of Filipino youth by subjecting them to red tape.”

Last week, Briones said DepEd could not make vaccination mandatory because parents are the ones who decide if their children would get inoculated against the respiratory illness.

Briones noted children also have a stronger immunity against Covid19.

Of the more than 15,000 students that joined the pilot phase of in-person classes last November to December, no one tested positive for the virus.

But Briones stated vaccination is mandatory for teaching and non-teaching personnel attending in-person classes.