THE Department of Health (DOH) yesterday said educational institutions have the
flexibility to return to blended learning amid the surge in coronavirus disease (COVID-19) cases in the country.
Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire said school officials have the discretion to decide on what learning mode to use that would ensure the protection of their students.
“We will leave it to our local governments or establishments, like schools (to decide) if they see that, based on their assessment, the schools cannot manage the transmission of cases or there is a spike in cases,” said Vergeire in a press briefing.
“It will be up to their assessment if they need to return online for the meantime. It should no longer require the mandate of the national government,” she added.
The health official said this is in accordance with their proposed policy of giving businesses, local governments, or schools the authority to make their own assessment of the COVID-19 situation in their jurisdictions.
“We want to empower each Filipino to be able to determine when it is allowed or not allowed, and when it is necessary or unnecessary to wear masks, for example,” said Vergeire.
Earlier, the Department of Education (DepEd) in the Bicol Region said schools may shift back to blended learning amid the increasing number of COVID-19 cases in the area.
Doing so, according to DepEd, will help ensure the safety and protection of the students and teachers from being exposed to the virus.
To recall, students turned to online learning as their method of education during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020.
Subsequently, the Philippines adopted blended learning, or the combination of face-to-face and online classes, as restriction protocols gradually eased.
Face-to-face classes resumed only August of last year for the Academic Year 2022-23.
The DOH on Tuesday reported an average of 637 COVID-19 cases last week, which is 42 percent higher than the previous week’s average. The positivity rates for all provinces in the country have also been in an uptrend.
