Protest against online classes joined by various groups

Multiple groups held a "gadget protest" outside the Department of Education (DepEd) office in Pasig City today, November 11, 2020 to call upon the approval of face-to-face classes as soon as possible.

Among those who participated in the protest are the Back to School Network, Anakbayan, Kabataan Party-list, League of Filipino Students, and Gabriela Youth.

The protesters expressed that the reason behind their calling was due to slow internet connection and lack of available resources like gadgets which are essential for online classes.

"Kung nahihirapan ang mga guro, paano pa kaya ang mga kabataan? Ang mga kabataan ngayon ay tinatamad na ring mag-aral," said Joshua Sales, spokesperson of Back to School Network.

He added that they are citing some solutions including the alternative classes which are already implemented in some low-risk areas of the country – where they hold classes in an alternating manner and there are a limited number of students who are allowed to go to school.

Last week Tuesday, November 3, 2020, the Malacañang said that the prevalence of coronavirus infections has to be examined before President Rodrigo Duterte decide to resume face-to-face classes in around two months.

In an article released by DEPED last July 21, 2020, President Duterte has approved to push through face-to-face classes starting next year as several local government units and private schools have requested to hold limited face-to-face classes in low-risk areas.

However, this can only be made possible if the area requesting is at least under the Modified General Community Quarantine (MGCQ) or in the transition phase between GCQ and the new normal.

Secretary Leonor Briones said that the limited face-to-face classes will only be allowed upon the request of the local chief executives of the concerned LGUs and schools, in which, if bound to happen, will be on January 2021 under the conditions set by the Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF), Department of Health (DOH), and Department of Education (DepEd).

Photo from ABS-CBN News