The Department of Education is ready for the pilot implementation of limited face-to-face classes that will begin on November 15 in selected schools.
According to Education Undersecretary Nepomuceno Malaluan, the schools that will participate in the face-to-face classes are already being inspected.
About 100 public schools and 20 private schools were allowed to participate in limited in-person classes. However, it only covers students in kindergarten, grades 1 to 3, and senior high school.
According to Malaluan, the parents of the students have already been permitted to return to school.
“They are actually excited to see sa mga mag-aaral natin na tumuntong ulit sa loob ng mga silid-aralan,” he said.
The agency is also considering expanding the number of pilot schools.
“But the final decision there, magsu-submit kami sa Office of the President probably on Monday of the recommendation to give the Department of Health and Department of Education greater flexibility in determining the number of schools that can participate dito sa ating pilot implementation,” said Malaluan.
According to DepEd’s lawyer Rhoan Orebia, the in-person pilot classes will show how to restore the interaction between children and their classmates and their teacher, which is one of the goals of having physical classes.
But he explained that adherence to health protocols is still the priority even if we allow interaction with each other, especially physical distancing and adherence to the set class hours per day.
Face-to-face classes in all degree programs allowed at 50% capacity in areas under Alert Level 2
Meanwhile, Commission on Higher Education (CHED) chairperson Prospero de Vera announced that the government’s pandemic task force had allowed face-to-face classes in all college degree programs at 50% capacity in areas under Alert Level 2.
To participate, colleges and universities must have high vaccination rates among students and teachers. They should also get local government approval and retrofit facilities before offering in-person classes again.
“They’ll have to follow the guidelines on minimum health standards, retrofitting of facilities, discussion with local government,” De Vera said.
Meanwhile, Malacañang clarified that while face-to-face classes have been approved, this will not immediately take effect.
“There can be limited face-to-face [classes,] but this would not be instant. Face-to-face [classes] won’t resume on Monday. LGUs need to agree to this, and classrooms need to be retrofitted,” presidential spokesperson Harry Roque said.
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