President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. on Monday urged learners and teachers to get their booster shots against COVID-19 even as children are set to return to in-person classes this coming school year.
“We continue to encourage everybody to get their booster shots in preparation for the resumption of in-person classes,” he said in his first State-of-the-Nation Address on Monday.
Marcos assured that government agencies, led by the Department of Education, are all working hard to ensure the safe resumption of face-to-face classes.
“The Department of Education, led by our highly able Vice-President Sara Duterte, is now preparing for its implementation in the upcoming school year, with utmost consideration for the safety of students, as we are still in the middle of the COVID-19 pandemic,” Marcos said.
The chief executive has directed both the Department of Health and Department of the Interior and Local Government to undertake another rollout of booster shots.
Marcos added that the government is instituting refresher courses program and re-trainings for teachers so they can stay abreast of the rapid growth in technology, especially in the post-pandemic world.
Marcos also noted discussions on the “viability” of the K to 12 program to determine students’ level of comprehension and competitiveness.
“There have also been lengthy discussions on the continuation and viability of the K to 12 school system. We are giving this a careful review, and all necessary inputs and points of view are being considered,” he added.
Marcos cited the need to address the Philippines’ lag in research and development in science and technology, engineering, and mathematics STEM.
“These skills and this knowledge are necessary for our young people to be able to compete in a highly technological and competitive world. The raw talent is there in our young people. It is up to our educational system to develop and to refine that great pool of talent,” Marcos said.
Institutionalized during the administration of former President Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III, the K-12 program’s review will be led by Vice President and Education Secretary Sara Duterte-Carpio. PND
