The Case for Reopening Schools
A month ago, the Department of Education announced that schools in the Philippines would remain closed until August 24, 2020, postponing the originally slated back-to-school date by 12 weeks. In conjunction with the COVID-19 Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF), the DepEd cited health and safety as their primary concerns in pushing for this delay.
The decision was immediately met with criticisms on both sides — some saying that schools should reopen sooner, and others fearing that deliberations were too hasty. The IATF themselves had recommended starting classes in September, but Secretary of Education Leonor Briones said that Philippine law requires schools to open “no later than the last day of August” to ensure the lengthening of the school calendar as proposed by Republic Act № 7797.
Among the staunchest critics of the August 24 start date was President Rodrigo Duterte himself, who said that he would not allow children to attend classes physically until a vaccine was found. “Bahala na ‘di makatapos. For this generation, wala na makatapos na doktor, pati engineer… unless I am sure they are really safe” he said. (“It doesn’t matter if no one finishes. For this generation, there will be no doctor or engineer that will finish… unless I am sure they are really safe.”)
There is, however, a case to be made for reopening schools immediately.
