DepEd Wants More Schools Included In Pilot F2F Classes

The Department of Education (DepEd) will seek the approval of President Duterte to expand the resumption of in-person classes to more schools when the pilot study is deemed successful, DepEd Secretary Leonor Briones said on Tuesday, Nov. 9.

Briones said she would submit a report to Duterte this week on the preparations for the resumption of face-to-face classes, which is slated on Nov. 15.

The agency will seek the President’s approval if he will delegate his authority to the DepEd and Department of Health for the expansion of in-person classes, she said.

“We really are hoping that the pilot study will be a success to lead us to an expansion of the program. It will be good for our learners,” Briones said at a press briefing.

Duterte has rejected the resumption of face-to-face classes in basic education, making the Philippines one of the two last countries in the world not implementing in-person classes since the outbreak of the pandemic in March last year.

“We are ready and, barring any unforeseen circumstances, we are prepared for the expansion of face-to-face classes considering the degree of preparations and thorough studies,” Briones said.

The DepEd has completed its list of 100 public schools that will be part of the pilot implementation of in-person classes.

This will cover levels of Kindergarten to Grade 3 as well as a few classes in senior high school. The list includes 10 public schools each in Regions 1, 3, 8 and 10 and eight schools each in Regions 7, 9, and 11.

There are 14 participating schools in Region 13; nine in Region 5; five schools each in Region 12 and 4-A and three in Region 6.

Four schools had to be replaced from the initial list released last week due to varying reasons.

A total of 30 private schools were recommended by DepEd regional offices to participate in the resumption of in-person classes.

Briones assured the public that they are prepared for situations that may arise during the resumption of face-to-face classes.

“We cannot guarantee that it will be 100 percent successful, but our hopes are high that this pilot study will be successful because we are only involving 100 schools,” she said. “We have contingency measures in place.”

Briones said that with Metro Manila placed under Alert Level 2, they are looking forward to including schools in the region in the next phase of the pilot study.

Contact tracing

A member of the Technical Working Group on New COVID-19 Variants underscored the need to have an effective contact tracing system in schools participating in the resumption of face-to-face classes.

In an interview with “The Chiefs” on One News on Monday night, Nov. 7, Anna Lisa Ong-Lim said it is important to set up a contact tracing system within the schools to prevent the spread of the virus should a child get infected.

“What is the worst-case scenario that may happen in a cluster or closed setting like that? If a child tested positive, of course it is not only the school or the parents or guardian who will panic but the entire community,” she said.

Lim said by having an efficient contact tracing system, the transmission of COVID-19 would be avoided. – With Sheila Crisostomo