Presidential candidate Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. called on the Department of Education and the Department of Health to initiate efforts to address the mental health and physical well-being of students and teachers as pilot testing of face-to-face classes (F2F) classes is set to start on November 15.
Marcos said the number of students going through mental health crises has increased rapidly due to the pandemic and prolonged lockdowns.
“Our government is doing the right thing to have pilot testing of F2F classes especially here in NCR where for a long time, minors are not allowed to go out, and now the return of students and teachers to schools we must focus on the mental health of children and teachers,” said Marcos, who is the Partido Federal ng Pilipinas standard-bearer.
“Of course, when these young people have mental health issues, apart from education, their physical health will also be affected, so we must give them due attention,” he added.
The PFP presidential bet cited neighboring countries like China which conducted F2F classes with special emphasis on the psychological state of each student and teachers.
“It’s good to see what other countries are doing. Let’s not look far. Like China, how did they start face to face classes and support children and teachers? Didn’t they have tests and didn’t they also put equipment in schools that will help students regain their energy and confidence,” he said.
“I am confident that our government will take these issues seriously. They have already allocated a budget for that so I am sure that this pilot testing of face-to-face classes will be smooth this coming November 15,” he added.
Meanwhile, an opposition leader in the House of Representatives on Monday slammed the Department of Education for the lack of preparation of schools for face-to-face classes.
“As the pilot test run for face-to-face classes draws near, the Department of Education should also ramp up its preparation of all schools for face-to-face classes. It should not rely on its conservative plans for school reopening and most importantly, it should not leave the responsibility of preparing the schools to teachers alone,” Assistant Minority Leader France Castro said.
Castro, nominee of the ACT Teachers party-list group, said “the government should ramp up its plans and adequately prepare our schools for the safe reopening of classes to also boost the nation’s confidence and allow the safe reopening of face-to-face classes.”