Unvaccinated teachers are now permitted to teach in classrooms when face-to-face lessons resume on August 22, according to the Department of Education (DepEd).
DepEd Undersecretary Atty. Revsee Escobedo stated at a press conference that approximately 37,000 teachers are currently unvaccinated against COVID-19.
20,000 of these people agreed to receive the vaccine, whereas the remaining 17,000 did not.
“Ang bago nating polisiya ay papayagan na silang mag-report at magturo na rin provided na kailangan lang na they will still follow the minimum public health protocol like wearing of face mask and ‘yung silid-aralan na kanilang pagtuturuan ay dapat maayos ‘yung ventilations,” he stated.
Additionally, he said, “Wala na po tayong tinatawag na kailangang bakunado o kaya hindi pahihintulutan ‘yung mga hindi bakunado. Sa ngayon ay lahat ng teacher ay magtuturo sa ating estudyante at sila ay magrereport na sa kani-kanilang silid-paaralan.”
Former President Rodrigo Duterte authorized DepEd’s proposal in February to increase in-person classes in regions with Alert Level 2 or lower, if the host local government unit agreed and the parents or guardians permitted their children to physically attend school.
Only vaccinated teaching and non-teaching professionals were permitted to participate in face-to-face classes, with vaccinated students preferred.
Face-to-face class pilot testing in the country began in November 2021 for both public and private schools that followed strict health regulations.
Furthermore, Escobedo stated that teachers who displayed COVID-19 symptoms were encouraged to remain at home and get evaluated.
He went on to say that instructors who are quarantined have “excused leave with pay.”
“Kung sila ay nasa bahay, sila ay considered on leave o kaya excused ‘yung kanilang leaves (If they are home, they are considered on leave),” he said.
DepEd stated that it was working with the Department of Health (DOH) to roll out mobile COVID-19 immunizations and conduct counseling sessions in schools for unvaccinated students.
In the meantime, Vice President and Education Secretary Sara Duterte previously stated that mixing students who have been vaccinated against COVID-19 with those who have not will not be a problem once face-to-face classes resume.
