ACT TEACHERS Party-list Representative France Castro on Sunday urged the Department of Education to ensure that schools are preparing for a safe face-to-face classes.

She stressed that face-to-face classes are long overdue.

“Two years of failed blended distance learning is too long. Our education system is suffering a major learning crisis due to inadequate learning materials, unreliable internet connection, and lack of support for modular learning, among many other factors that made education inaccessible and sacrificed the quality of education our students received,” Castro said.

“We cannot afford another postponement of classes. But the Department of Education and the administration of [President Ferdinand] Marcos Jr. must make sure that the schools are equipped with adequate resources for safe back-to-school for our students,” she added.

Castro said her party-list will file a resolution that will provide a supplemental budget for the Maintenance and Other Operating Expenses of schools to help them prepare for the resumption of full face-to-face classes.

“A maximum of 35 students per class as the ideal class size should also be implemented for schools to have better airflow in classrooms. This means additional teachers should also be employed to be able to cater to more sections. Safe schools also mean that there should be nurses and adequate utility personnel in every school and health protection and benefits for teachers and non-teaching staff must be in place,” she added.