Several youth groups criticized Education Secretary Leonor Briones for declaring “victory” over COVID-19 during the October 5 opening of classes despite the issues that hounded preparations for the new school year.

Briones had said on Monday that the Department of Education (DepEd) “will not allow COVID-19 to destroy our children’s education and future,” claiming that the school opening during the coronavirus pandemic was a “great victory.”

However, several youth groups, including the College Editors Guild of the Philippines and the National Union of Students of the Philippines, took issue with the remark, pointing out how the school opening could hardly be considered a victory when it has worsened the struggles of young Filipinos in the middle of a health crisis.

“Sa kabila ng milyon-milyong mga mag-aaral na lumiban muna sa pag-aaral dahil hindi sila makasabay sa makabagong paraan ng edukasyon at mga empleyado na nawalan ng trabaho dahil sa pagsasara ng mga paaralan, tagumpay nga ba talaga itong matatawag?” said College Editors Guild of the Philippines Deputy Secretary-General Regina Tolentino.

(In the face of millions of students who dropped out of school because they can’t cope with the new mode of education, and employees who lost jobs due to school closures, can we really call this a victory?)

Anakbayan Cebu also slammed Briones for calling the opening of classes a “victory” despite the concerns raised by students and parents about their limited household finances and incapability to buy tools needed for the shift to distance learning.

“It is distasteful to hear such words from Briones who insisted on the opening of classes without really addressing the issues faced by both teachers and students alike…. Despite the clear demands set forth by the people, Briones continues to blind and deafen herself,” said Cyan Adrian Rom, spokesperson of Anakbayan Cebu.

Need for assistance

Kabataan Party list Laguna emphasized that students in the provinces continue to struggle with access to internet and learning modules. The group said some even opt to go to schools, putting themselves at risk of contracting COVID-19.

During opening of classes, teachers of Sto Niño National High School even showed the media how they have to climb up their school’s roof to get better internet connection and send their requirements for learning delivery modalities. 

“Ang pagbabalik-eskwela ngayong Oktubre 5 ay pahirap sa iba’t ibang sektor dahil sa patuloy na kapabayaan ng administrasyong Duterte sa kawalan pa rin ng komprehensibong tugong pangkalusugan sa gitna ng pandemya, at sa kakarampot at usad-pagong na pagbibigay ng ayuda sa mga kababayan nating nawalan ng kabuhayan dahil sa COVID-19,” the Kabataan Party list said.

(The school opening on October 5 caused hardships to different sectors due to the neglect of the Duterte administration in its lack of a comprehensive health solution in the middle of the pandemic, and the meager and slow provision of assistance for our countrymen who have lost their jobs because of COVID-19.)

The demands of distance learning have pushed at least 2.3 million students to opt out of enrolling for the current school year. The Gabriela Women’s Party list stressed that the opening of classes is not a cause for celebration given the number of unenrolled students “due to the sharp drop in family incomes made worse by pandemic restrictions and lack of government subsidy to students.”

Gabriela Women’s Party Representative Arlene Brosas pointed out that classes opened despite the lack of gadgets and internet allowances for students and teachers. This might still be the case in 2021.

‘Not a priority’

The DepEd has so far been allocated P606.5 billion out of the government’s proposed P4.5 trillion budget for 2021. However, several groups including the Alliance of Concerned Teachers believe that the amount is still not enough to cover the needs of the education sector for the overhauled education system.

The National Union of Students of the Philippines (NUSP) said Briones’ remark as well as the DepEd’s budget for 2021 only show that addressing the needs of students and teachers is not a priority of the government.

“Kitang-kita na kahit sa 2021 budget proposal ay hindi prayoridad ang edukasyon dahil maraming ahensya ang maghahati pa rito. Hindi rin sagot dito ang mga pangangailangan ng mga kaguruan at estudyante,” the NUSP said. 

(It is evident even in the 2021 budget proposal that education is not a priority as many agencies will still have to divide it among themselves. This also does not meet the needs of teachers and students.)

Brosas called on the government to provide subsidies to students and parents who are struggling to finance their education and buy supplies for remote learning. 

The NUSP also urged the government to prioritize the welfare of students and teachers, provide economic assistance, allocate resources, and strengthen institutions to ensure quality, safe, and affordable education.

Anakbayan Cebu also asserted that amid the ongoing pandemic, Filipinos do not need the “romanticization of our resiliency.”

The youth groups stressed the need for medical solutions such as free mass testing that will pave the way for the resumption of face-to-face classes.

“We need an actual push from the Duterte government to resolve the pandemic, not empty words. We need mass testing, health and safety standards, and concrete steps to address accessibility and quality concerns…. Education is a right, and COVID-19 doesn’t change that fact,” said Justin Umali, chairperson of Kabataan Party list Laguna.

After much backlash, Briones clarified during President Rodrigo Duterte’s late night address on Monday that her “victory” remark was meant for groups pushing for an “academic freeze” or suspension of the current school year. 

“That’s why we are saying that your declaration that we should open classes on October 5 is a victory for the education sector, because our opponents, who insist on an education freeze want to close everything because DepEd and the government supposedly cannot handle it,” Briones explained. – with reports from Russel Ku/Rappler.com