According to the Department of Education (DepEd), the first day of the return of face-to-face classes in schools in Metro Manila, according to the Department of Education (DepEd), was “smooth.”
According to Education Undersecretary Nepomuceno Malaluan, the agency has yet to receive an “adverse report” from 28 public schools in the National Capital Region that have resumed face-to-face classes after a nearly 2-year ban due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
According to DepEd, about 2,300 students from Kindergarten to Grade 3 and senior high school are expected to participate in face-to-face classes.
At Comembo Elementary School in Makati, back-to-school students were trained to wash their hands, wear face masks and follow physical distancing.
Classrooms have UV light and air purifiers, where windows are also open and use an electric fan for better ventilation.
At Payatas B Annex Elementary School in Quezon City, a voluntary COVID-19 swab test was implemented for students.
More than 100 students from Kinder and Grade 2 alone will participate in the pilot test at the said school.
Next week, a different grade level will be held in face-to-face classes, while the first batch who returned to school will return to distance learning.
Pilot face-to-face classes in NCR properly implemented: DepEd
According to Education Assistance Secretary Malcolm Garma, DepEd is satisfied with the protocols laid down by schools in Metro Manila.
This December, DepEd will forward to the Office of the President an assessment on the pilot implementation of face-to-face classes, which will be the basis for how many schools will be added to the expansion phase next year.
In November, pilot face-to-face classes will begin at 100 public and 20 private schools.
Recently, it increased to 177 schools, including 28 in Metro Manila.
Meanwhile, COVID-19 has yet to be recorded among all students participating in the pilot implementation of the face-to-face classes.
“So far, in the last two weeks, ang report natin ay walang actual COVID positive na naitala,” said Education Undersecretary Nepomuceno Malaluan.
“We have had monitoring and referral… ang iba ay at the home, have exhibited flu-like symptoms at kasama ‘yan sa ating protocol. ‘Yung health screening. At ‘yan ay ginagawa, not only at home, but also in school.”
Visit our Facebook page for more news updates.