Manila Bulletin
Philippines
DepEd to issue minimum health standards for school opening amid COVID -19 crisis
Philippines
DepEd to issue minimum health standards for school opening amid COVID -19 crisis
DepEd to issue minimum health standards for school opening amid COVID -19 crisis
Published May 20, 2020 12:00 am
By Merlina Hernando-Malipot
In an effort to ensure the safety of its personnel and learners this coming school year, the Department of Education (DepEd) on May 20, Wednesday, said that the guidelines for the minimum health standards will be issued before the enrollment starts in June.
(MANILA BULLETIN)
DepEd Undersecretary and Spokesperson Atty. Nepomuceno Malaluan confirmed that the agency is currently preparing the guidelines for the minimum health standards which will include a testing protocol.
“The minimum health standards that DepEd will issue will include a testing protocol,” said Malaluan, noting that that the guidelines are not yet completed because it “requires due care and study.” The draft, he explained, is “presently under review but this will be issued as soon as possible.”
Malaluan said that DepEd is eyeing to issue the guidelines for minimum health standards by early next week, “in time for the start of enrollment on June 1.” DepEd has set the enrollment for public schools from June 1 to 30 in preparation for the formal school opening of the school year (SY) 2020-2021 set on August 24.
Based on the Operationalization Roadmap of the Basic Education-Learning Continuity Plan (BE-LCP), the Minimum Health Standards broad framework and detailed guidelines are scheduled to be completed in May and will be implemented in June, July, and August.
Among the references used by DepEd in outlining its Minimum Health Standards include Guidelines on the Risk Based Public Health Standards for COVID-19 as issued by the Department of Health (DOH), specifically in mitigation, increasing physical and mental resilience, and reducing transmission, contact and duration of infection. Other references are also from issuances of UNICEF, WHO, IFRC as well as from Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, UNESCO, World Bank, and World Food Programme among others.
Malaluan explained that in an effort to reduce the duration of infection, DepEd has included in its Health Standards a “testing protocol” in coordination with local government units (LGUs) and local health and partners.
There will also be “internal contact tracing” as well “pre-agreed referral system for symptomatic patients.” DepEd also aims to ensure the availability of Personal Protective Equipment (PPEs) for emergency situations and for management of quarantine facilities.
Other key elements of the DepEd Health Standards, aside from testing protocol, include increasing the physical and mental resilience of both learners and personnel through school-based feeding for undernourished students, health education and nutrition advocacy and instruction, mental health interventions, provision of vitamins and minerals supplements, and support for teachers and personnel.
DepEd is set to implement school readiness standards; respiratory and Hand Hygiene/WASH in Schools with provision of soaps and others; use of masks; and regular disinfection to reduce transmission.
It will also implement close monitoring by teachers such as symptoms, social distancing, respiratory and hand hygiene. “Students and teachers with respiratory symptoms are not allowed in school,” DepEd said. “Health and safety standards not only in school, but also at home and on travel,” it added.
Malaluan noted that DepEd will implement physical distancing at work, classrooms, and travel and will reduce class size to 15 to 20 learners per class in order to reduce contact. The agency will also roll out multiple learning delivery modalities and alternative work arrangements. DepEd also aims to ensure proper “ventilation of classrooms” and has cancelled all activities involving a large congregation of learners.
DepEd will also continue its DepEd Task Force COVID-19, implementation of communications plans and generating internal situation reports to ensure monitoring of COVID-19 related cases.
Aside from the guidelines on minimum health standards, Malaluan said that other upcoming issues are on “details of the enrollment process” as well as the conduct of “Brigada Eskwela” and “Oplan Balik Eskwela” in preparation for the formal school opening in August.
(MANILA BULLETIN)
DepEd Undersecretary and Spokesperson Atty. Nepomuceno Malaluan confirmed that the agency is currently preparing the guidelines for the minimum health standards which will include a testing protocol.
“The minimum health standards that DepEd will issue will include a testing protocol,” said Malaluan, noting that that the guidelines are not yet completed because it “requires due care and study.” The draft, he explained, is “presently under review but this will be issued as soon as possible.”
Malaluan said that DepEd is eyeing to issue the guidelines for minimum health standards by early next week, “in time for the start of enrollment on June 1.” DepEd has set the enrollment for public schools from June 1 to 30 in preparation for the formal school opening of the school year (SY) 2020-2021 set on August 24.
Based on the Operationalization Roadmap of the Basic Education-Learning Continuity Plan (BE-LCP), the Minimum Health Standards broad framework and detailed guidelines are scheduled to be completed in May and will be implemented in June, July, and August.
Among the references used by DepEd in outlining its Minimum Health Standards include Guidelines on the Risk Based Public Health Standards for COVID-19 as issued by the Department of Health (DOH), specifically in mitigation, increasing physical and mental resilience, and reducing transmission, contact and duration of infection. Other references are also from issuances of UNICEF, WHO, IFRC as well as from Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, UNESCO, World Bank, and World Food Programme among others.
Malaluan explained that in an effort to reduce the duration of infection, DepEd has included in its Health Standards a “testing protocol” in coordination with local government units (LGUs) and local health and partners.
There will also be “internal contact tracing” as well “pre-agreed referral system for symptomatic patients.” DepEd also aims to ensure the availability of Personal Protective Equipment (PPEs) for emergency situations and for management of quarantine facilities.
Other key elements of the DepEd Health Standards, aside from testing protocol, include increasing the physical and mental resilience of both learners and personnel through school-based feeding for undernourished students, health education and nutrition advocacy and instruction, mental health interventions, provision of vitamins and minerals supplements, and support for teachers and personnel.
DepEd is set to implement school readiness standards; respiratory and Hand Hygiene/WASH in Schools with provision of soaps and others; use of masks; and regular disinfection to reduce transmission.
It will also implement close monitoring by teachers such as symptoms, social distancing, respiratory and hand hygiene. “Students and teachers with respiratory symptoms are not allowed in school,” DepEd said. “Health and safety standards not only in school, but also at home and on travel,” it added.
Malaluan noted that DepEd will implement physical distancing at work, classrooms, and travel and will reduce class size to 15 to 20 learners per class in order to reduce contact. The agency will also roll out multiple learning delivery modalities and alternative work arrangements. DepEd also aims to ensure proper “ventilation of classrooms” and has cancelled all activities involving a large congregation of learners.
DepEd will also continue its DepEd Task Force COVID-19, implementation of communications plans and generating internal situation reports to ensure monitoring of COVID-19 related cases.
Aside from the guidelines on minimum health standards, Malaluan said that other upcoming issues are on “details of the enrollment process” as well as the conduct of “Brigada Eskwela” and “Oplan Balik Eskwela” in preparation for the formal school opening in August.