Poll confirms Gatchalian's urgent call for the 100% resumption of face-to-face classes

A recent Pulse Asia Survey showed an overwhelming preference for children's participation in face-to-face classes in the coming school year, a similar call that Senator Win Gatchalian has made over the past months.

For the chairman of the Senate Committee on Basic Education, Arts and Culture, this sends a signal to the government that the resumption of face-to-face classes should no longer be delayed after more than two years of grappling with the COVID-19 pandemic, noting that the prolonged lack of face-to-face classes will only lead to deeper economic scars due to the alarming learning loss.

Based on the survey commissioned by Gatchalian and conducted on June 24-27, 94% of adult respondents agree that children should be allowed to attend face-to-face classes. Four percent cannot say if they agree or may disagree and only two percent say they disagree. The overwhelmingly favorable attitude towards the resumption of face-to-face classes is resounding across Classes ABC (85%), D (96%), and E (92%).

"Kung pakikinggan natin ang ating mga kababayan, makikita nating napakalakas ng panawagan para sa pagbabalik ng face-to-face classes. Hindi na natin maaari pang ipagpaliban ang pagbabalik ng ating mga kabataan sa paaralan at hindi na natin dapat hayaang mahuli ang sektor ng edukasyon mula sa pagbangon natin sa pandemya," said Gatchalian.

The survey results showed a stark contrast with a similar survey conducted in June 2021, where only 44% of respondents agreed on resuming face-to-face classes, while 33% said they cannot say if they agree or they may disagree, and 23% disagreed. Results of this survey showed that the demand for face-to-face classes is stronger among Classes D (44%) and E (49%) compared to Classes ABC (32%).

The Department of Education (DepEd) has recently ordered all public and private basic education institutions in the country to shift to face-to-face classes by November 2.

To ensure the safety of learners who are going back to school, Gatchalian maintained the need to ramp up pediatric vaccination against COVID-19, where the DepEd should proactively facilitate the operation of a more aggressive school-based vaccination program in coordination with the Department of Health (DOH). The lawmaker flagged that vaccination coverage among children 5-11 remains low. As of July 7, only 3.6 million or 26% of the target 14 million children aged 5 to 11 are fully vaccinated. For minors aged 12-17, however, 9.6 million or 86% of the target 11.4 million are already fully vaccinated.

According to the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA), a year of school closures costs about P10.8 trillion in future productivity and wage losses over the next 40 years - an economic cost that does not yet even capture how every school that is closed exacerbates the already existing inequalities in education suffered by the poor, those from the rural areas, those with disabilities, and the girls.

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Panawagan ni Gatchalian para sa 100% face-to-face classes pinatotohanan ng isang survey

Lumabas sa isang survey ng Pulse Asia na karamihan sa mga Pilipino ay pabor sa pakikilahok ng mga bata sa face-to-face classes sa darating na school year, bagay na ilang buwan nang ipinapanawagan ni Senador Win Gatchalian.

Para sa Chairman ng Senate Committee on Basic Education, Arts and Culture, malinaw na hudyat ito sa pamahalaan na hindi na dapat pang ipagpaliban ang pagbabalik ng face-to-face classes mula sa mahigit dalawang taong online learning bunsod ng pandemya. Aniya, ang patuloy na kawalan ng face-to-face classes ay lalo lamang magdudulot ng pinsala sa ekonomiya dahil sa nakakabahalang learning loss o pag-urong ng kaalaman.

Ayon sa survey na kinomisyon ni Gatchalian at isinagawa noong Hunyo 24-27, 94% ng mga nakilahok sa survey ang sumasang-ayon na dapat pahintulutan ang mga batang mag face-to-face classes na, samantalang 4% ang hindi matukoy kung sang-ayon sila o maaaring hindi sang-ayon, at 2% lamang ang hindi sang-ayon. Kung pagbabatayan ang estado sa buhay ng mga kalahok sa survey, lumalabas na 85% mula Class ABC, 96% mula Class D, at 92% mula sa Class E ang sumasang-ayon dito.

"Kung pakikinggan natin ang ating mga kababayan, makikita nating napakalakas ng panawagan para sa pagbabalik ng face-to-face classes. Hindi na natin maaari pang ipagpaliban ang pagbabalik ng ating mga kabataan sa paaralan at hindi na natin dapat hayaang mahuli ang sektor ng edukasyon mula sa pagbangon natin sa pandemya," ani Gatchalian.

Taliwas ang naging resulta ng naturang survey sa isang parehong pag-aaral na ginawa noong Hunyo 2021, kung saang 44% lamang ang sumang-ayon sa pagbabalik ng face-to-face classes, 33% ang nagsasabing hindi nila matukoy kung sang-ayon sila o maaaring hindi sila sang-ayon, at 23% ang hindi sang-ayon. Samantala, 32% mula Class ABC, 44% mula Class D, at 49% mula sa Class E ang nagsabing pabor sila sa pagbabalik ng face-to-face classes.

Kamakailan ay ipinag-utos ng Department of Education (DepEd) na lahat ng mga pampubliko at pribadong mga paaralan ay dapat magsagawa na ng face-to-face classes simula Nobyembre 2.

Para naman matiyak ang kaligtasan ng mga mag-aaral, iginiit ni Gatchalian na dapat paigtingin pa ang pediatric vaccination laban sa COVID-19. Dapat pamunuan aniya ng DepEd ang mas agresibong school-based vaccination program sa tulong ng Department of Health (DOH).

Nababahala si Gatchalian na nananatiling mababa ang bilang ng mga kabataang may edad na 5 hanggang 11 na nabakunahan na laban sa COVID-19. May naitalang 3.6 milyon o 26% sa 14 milyong mga batang may edad na 5 hanggang 11 ang fully vaccinated na, ayon sa datos noong Hulyo 7. Samantala, nasa 9.6 milyon na o 86% ng 11.4 milyon ang fully vaccinated na sa mga kabataang may edad na 12 hanggang 17.

Ayon sa National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA), ang pagsasara ng mga paaralan ay katumbas ng 10.8 trilyong pisong mawawala sa bansa pagdating sa productivity. Ang mas malala pa, magdudulot daw ito ng kawalan ng trabaho sa susunod na apat na dekada. # # #