CHANGE OF HEART? Treñas urges students to enroll amid pandemic

By Emme Rose Santiagudo

In a sudden turn of events, Mayor Jerry Treñas encouraged parents and students to enroll for the next school year amid threats of the coronavirus disease (Covid-19).

Treñas’ statement is a complete turnaround from his previous calls to postpone the opening of classes this year.

“We cannot let fear of the coronavirus kill the opportunity for people to acquire knowledge and skills. Despite these difficult times, I highly encourage students to enroll in school, and for parents to give the gift of education to the younger generation,” he said in a statement posted on his social media page on Friday.

The mayor expressed confidence on the initiatives to be implemented by public and private educational institutions to ensure the safety of the students despite the pandemic.

“I am confident the public and private educational institutions have initiatives that can give everyone access to education whether online, modular or blended learning,” he said.

According to the mayor, systems and processes are being put in place to assure the health and safety of students.

He also committed to provide support in whatever way they can.

“We have to arm ourselves with knowledge so we can overcome life’s challenges, to help us become more understanding and compassionate of others, and to contribute to the development of our city and our nation,” he added.

Before his new statement on Friday, Treñas in a letter dated May 22 asked the Department of Education (DepEd) to reconsider the opening of classes in August 24.

According to the mayor, opening the classes on the said date may limit the effectiveness of the measures implemented by the Iloilo City government and the national government to contain coronavirus disease (Covid-19).

“Considering the natural instinct to play and socialize, there might be difficulty in imposing stringent social distancing measures among these children during recess and immediately before and after classes,” he said.

Treñas cited the lack of vaccine against Covid-19 which may unduly expose the children to the disease and the possible influx of students that may burden the city’s transportation system as the main points for reconsidering the class opening.

DepEd has set the opening of academic school year 2020-2021 on August 24 for both public and private schools.

Alternative modes of learning such as online, blended learning, and other approaches are being considered, according to the education department.

Education Secretary Leonor Breones has said that face-to-faces classes will depend on the risk of the areas emphasizing that DepEd will maximize the use of online platforms, cellphones, television, and radio to continue the learning process.