Senator Nancy Binay urged the Department of Education to go on full blast in inoculating teachers, and set a target rate of 100% as the government prepares to pilot test face-to-face classes.
“Sa tingin ko dapat gawing accessible sa mga guro at school personnel ang bakuna, at mabakunahan ang lahat ng ating mga guro. DepEd should target a full vaccination coverage ASAP- not 30%, not 50%, but 100%,” Binay stated.
The veteran legislator expressed her concern after Undersecretary Nepomuceno Malaluan reported that only 30% of DepEd personnel had been inoculated.
“DepEd has to find ways for teachers to have full access to available vaccines.”
“DepEd has to find ways for teachers to have full access to available vaccines. I don’t understand why they are not as persistent as the transport or tourism sector given the fact that teachers are considered part of the essential workforce. ‘Di ba sila bothered na may probability na ‘yung magtuturo sa mga bata ay hindi bakunado?” the seasoned lawmaker said during a hearing of the Senate basic education committee.
The lady senator proposed that a special vaccination program for teachers, similar to what was done for the transport and tourism industry workers, should be in place to ensure safety in schools selected for pilot testing.
“Paano natin sisimulan ‘yung (vaccination ng) mga estudyante kung ‘yung teacher mismo hindi bakunado? The concern here is baka ‘yung teachers natin they are not getting access to vaccination and feeling ko baka it’s not hesitation but more of access to vaccine,” she said.
“Baka kailangan natin magkaroon ng event where DepEd would gather our teachers tapos babakunahan sila sa school. Which is kagaya ng ginagawa sa ibang industries like the transport and tourism industries. Why can’t we have something like that for our teachers,” Binay added.
“The pilot test of face-to-face classes in the country will start on November 15.”
According to DepEd, the pilot test of face-to-face classes in the country will start on November 15.
The assessment of the initial run will be conducted from November 15 to December 22, while the end of the pilot study is scheduled for January 31.
In February, DepEd is set to conduct an evaluation of the pilot study, identify other schools for expansion of the face-to-face classes, inspect sites, and present to President Rodrigo Duterte the report on the pilot test and the proposed expansion.
Currently, out of the 638 nominated schools, only 59 have passed the risk assessment of the Department of Health (DOH) for the limited face-to-face classes.
