Reopening face to face classes

 
EDITORIAL

THE government is eyeing resumption of face-to-face classes for students of medical courses as the country faces the Covid-19 pandemic.
    National Task Force against Covid-19 chief implementer Sec. Carlito Galvez Jr. Galvez bared this saying the government will also look at the possibility of allowing face-to-face classes for K to 12 students.
    Sec. Galvez Jr. during the Laging Handa public briefing on Wednesday said the move will augment the medical workforce and give them “relief.”
    “We saw the need for health workers that is why it would be good if face-to-face classes will resume for medical schools and medical courses to provide relief to health workers.”
    Resumption of training related to providing essential services is also being looked into. He said other courses, especially the ones related to providing essential services could also resume.
    The Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases has yet to approve the proposal to allow limited face to face classes at the tertiary level.
    On Monday, Galvez, along with Commission on Higher Education Chairman Prospero De Vera, reportedly inspected the Our Lady of Fatima University in Valenzuela which reconfigured its facilities to comply with the health standards should the government allow in-person classes.
    Galvez says resumption of face-to-face classes will be on a “case-to-case” basis. “They cannot open until we have inspected their facilities,” he said.
    Every now and then, government officials come out with pronouncements on how to handle issues related to Covid-19.
    Baguio City for one, where the NPT is based, had become a “city of experimentation” where tourists are being allowed to come and crowd-drawing events like the night market were allowed even with the spike in Covid-19 cases.
    This as folks from nearby Benguet towns like the capital town of La Trinidad were restricted from going to Baguio. Basing from comments on social media, people want detailed scientific and rational explanations from government officials whenever they implement policies related to the pandemic since these directly affect their lives like their freedom of mobility and livelihood.
    They want government officials to consult with their constituents or their peers from outlying areas so policies or measures related to Covid-19 are made and implemented in a democratic and consultative manner for the best of all.