SAFE RETURN TO SCHOOLS

MADEL G. DIMALOTANG

Based on reports and recommendations of the Education Facilities Division (EFD) and the Bureau of Learner Support Services-School Health Division (BLSS-SHD), the Department of Education (DepEd) identified the priority health-related school facilities for the safe return to schools and offices for the School Year 2022-2023.

Considered essential health-related structures now are potable water, toilets, handwashing stations, and clinics in schools. These provisions and facilities ensure that proper hygiene is implemented and sustained for all learners, teachers and school personnel.

But a UNICEF study shows that not all schools in the country have access to potable water and handwashing facilities with regular supply of hygiene kits and soaps.

Analysis made by the German development agency GIZ and the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) show that there are still about 24% of schools nationwide that have no access to these facilities, while 76% have yet to meet the requirements for basic sanitation, thus exposing the school children, teachers, and personnel to viruses and other diseases.

Only 28% of all public schools have clinics, and the perennial problem of non-functioning toilets is always on top of the list.

The outbreak of COVID-19 opened our eyes to the absolute necessity of having potable water and sanitation facilities, especially in our schools. Also vital is the access to school clinics for regular checkups to determine the condition of the students, teachers, and personnel so that DepEd can attend to their specific health needs.

The Office of the Undersecretary for Administration (OUA) and the Education Facilities Division (EFD) have identified the priority health-related school facilities as follows:

Water System with Source of Potable Water

Toilets (sanitation system)

Handwashing Stations

School Clinics

Water System with Source of Potable Water

-oOo

The author is Teacher II at Marcelo H. Del Pilar National High School