Pokwang, Aiko Melendez and Ogie Diaz (Image: Instagram/@itspokwang27, @ogie_diaz, @aikomelendez)
Pokwang, Ogie Diaz and Aiko Melendez slammed the government’s plan to implement in-person classes in public schools amid the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.
President Rodrigo Duterte recently expressed openness to allow a pilot implementation of in-person classes in areas that are low-risk for COVID-19. Department of Education (DepEd) Undersecretary Nepomuceno Malaluan said that under the proposed guidelines, face-to-face classes will be held for kindergarten and grade 3 students.
Pokwang called the idea “stupid” through her Facebook page yesterday, Sept. 7. She also pointed out that the arrangement could potentially put her child’s life in danger.
“Kayo-kayo na lang! Ano ako, ul*l para ipain ang anak ko sa kab*b*hang idea na ito?” the comedian asked.
(You do it yourselves. What am I, a fool to allow my child to be used as bait for this stupid idea?)
Meanwhile, Diaz said children should not be used as “guinea pigs,” as seen on his Facebook page, also yesterday. According to him, no parent would allow their child to be at risk.
“Wag niyong gawing guinea pig ang mga bata para i-try kung mananatiling negative [sa COVID-19] habang nasa klase,” the talent manager addressed government officials. “‘Di rin naman siraulo mga parents para isugal ang buhay ng mga anak nila.”
(Don’t use children as guinea pigs to try to find out if they would stay negative for COVID-19 while in class. Parents are not crazy to risk their children’s lives.)
Diaz added that it would be “impossible” to keep kids apart in classrooms to maintain physical distancing.
“Mga bata yan. Imposibleng di magdidikitan ang mga yan, lalo na kung na-miss nila ang isa’t isa,” he said. (They’re kids. It’s impossible for them to keep apart, especially if they missed each other.)
Melendez agreed with Diaz through a comment, noting that in-person classes should only be held if vaccines are already accessible to children.
“Naitawid naman na online classes muna ang mga bata, bakit di muna pababain ang cases?” she said. “Kapag meron na along the way na vaccine that would be safe sa kids, that’s the time na pwede na ‘to. Kahit i-push ng DepEd yan, bilang magulang, di ko sasapalaran ang safety ng mga bata.”
(The kids got through online classes, why don’t we let the case count go down first? If there would be a vaccine along the way that is safe for kids, that’s the time this plan should be okay. Even if DepEd pushes for this, as a parent, I would not risk my children’s safety.)
Image: Facebook/Ogie Diaz
Under the DepEd proposal, face-to-face classes will only be held with 12 to 16 pupils per room. Classes will also be limited to only three hours. As of Sept. 2, there are about 120 schools lined up for the proposed setup.
Meanwhile, the upcoming school year is set to begin on September 13, which will still be conducted through blended learning. /ra
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