“DISTANT, walang learning. Hindi lapat sa kalagayan, walang makabuluhang pagkatuto.”

This was the lament of various youth groups as they amplified their calls for better pandemic response to pave the way for the safe resumption of physical classes.

Led by the Kabataan Party-list-Cagayan Valley, the groups sought “accountability and humane responses” in the education sector.

“Sa kasalukuyan, ang pangunahing layunin ng mga eskwelahan ay lumikha taon-taon ng graduates na babaratin ang sahod habang nag-aagawan sa kakaunting oportunidad sa trabaho sa bansa,” the groups said in a statement.

“Hindi kailanman naging interes ng administrasyong Duterte ang libre at dekalidad na edukasyon para sa lahat para maghubog ng mga kritikal na kabataang magtataguyod sa pambansang kaunlaran,” it added.

They also described the current learning situation in the country as a “reflection of Duterte’s negligence during the health crisis.”

“Ito ang dahilan kung bakit walang pag-aatubili ang gobyerno na isara ang eskwelahan at ipuwersa ang distance learning kahit pa marami ang nahihirapan. At kung minsan, buhay mismo ang katumbas,” they stressed.

The Philippines is the only country in the world that has yet to reopen schools since the pandemic started.

The Department of Education has allowed 100 public schools to participate in the pilot run of limited starting on November 15.