SENATOR Sherwin Gatchalian pushed for the reopening of schools for face-to-face classes to further accelerate the recovery of the education sector from the impact of the Covid19 pandemic.

Gatchalian made the call after the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases supported the idea of opening of all public and private schools for in-person classes.

“Napapanahon nang buksan natin ang ating mga paaralan para sa face-to-face classes, lalo na’t nananatiling mababa ang bilang ng mga kaso ng Covid19 sa ating bansa. Kung nakakapagbukas at nakakabangon na ang ibang mga sektor, hindi na dapat mapag-iwanan pa ang sektor ng edukasyon, lalo na’t nais nating tiyakin ang magandang kinabukasan ng ating mga kabataan at muling pagsigla ng ating ekonomiya,” the chairman of the Senate Committee on Basic Education, Arts and Culture, said.

While the IATF said Covid19 vaccination is not going to be a requirement for the conduct of full face-to-face classes, Gatchalian said that the government should ensure increased Covid19 vaccination among eligible learners, especially among those aged 5-11.

The IATF further called on public schools to allow the Department of Health to conduct Covid19 vaccination programs in their premises in coordination with local government units.

Private schools may also conduct Covid19 vaccination programs in coordination with the DOH and LGUs.

Gatchalian has repeatedly sought the proactive participation of the Department of Education and the schools in conducting pediatric vaccination for Covid19, noting that this will ensure a more efficient identification and monitoring of learners who are eligible to receive Covid19 jabs.

The National Economic and Development Authority estimates that the two-year lack of face-to-face classes will cost the Philippine economy P22 trillion in productivity losses.