Corona virus – Philippines: Schools reopened after two years – All students wear masks

The children went to school today, Monday (22/8) after two whole years of abstinence. Philippines. The start of the new school year and the lessons that will now be held live mark for many the return to the normal rhythms of life after the outbreak of the pandemic of coronavirus.

The Philippines is one of the last countries in the world to fully resume curriculum and face-to-facewhile the prolonged closure of schools had raised fears of worsening the state of education in the country, which was already in crisis.

After school closures in the Philippines, a “hybrid learning” program was implemented using print media as well as lessons broadcast on television and social media.

Ahead of the reopening of schools, the government has stepped up its vaccination campaign against COVID-19 and announced it is making public transport free for all students by the end of the year.

On Saturday (20/8), the government, as reported by the Athens News Agency, also distributed cash to students and parents to help them with their expenses, which caused scenes of unrest outside the distribution centers.

With the reopening of schools, the problems that existed before the health crisis caused by the new coronavirus pandemic are returning: large numbers of students, outdated teaching methods or even a lack of essential infrastructure.

Before the pandemic, 9 out of 10 children in the Philippines were unable to “read a simple text and understand it” by the age of 10, the World Bank and other organizations said in a recent report.

Only 10 countries face a more severe situation, including Afghanistan, Laos, Chad and Yemen.