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DepEd reminds private schools that face-to-face learning is 'not yet allowed'
DepEd reminds private schools that face-to-face learning is 'not yet allowed'
The Department of Education (DepEd) has reminded private schools that face-to-face learning, regardless of the nature or set-up, remains prohibited at this time.
DepEd issued this reminder following a report that a private school is offering limited face-to-face “tutorial” sessions among their students.
“At this time, that is not yet allowed,” DepEd Undersecretary for Curriculum and Instruction Diosdado San Antonio told the Manila Bulletin.
Based on the existing protocols and guidelines from the Inter-Agency Task Force on Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-EID), San Antonio said that the conduct of face-to-face classes remains prohibited at this time. This, he added, is also in line with the directive of President Duterte that no in-person classes shall be conducted until a vaccine has been found.
Early this month, a mother has reached out to the Manila Bulletin asking if face-to-face learning is already allowed by DepEd - especially for private schools.
*Grace, who spoke on condition of anonymity, is a mother to two grade school pupils. Her children are currently enrolled in a private school located in Trece Martires in the province of Cavite.
According to Grace, the school informed them that it is offering face-to-face “tutorial” for the students thrice a week. “Yung tutorial class daw ay two hours, from Wednesday to Friday (The tutorial class will last for two hours, from Wednesday to Friday)," she said. “E hindi kasi ako pumayag (I did not allow it),” she added.
While the said tutorial remains “optional,” Grace was worried about the safety of her child. She was worried about other students too since they are being asked to go to school for the said sessions.
Grace also felt her child might be left behind. “Until now, there is still no activity for this week,” she said.
Aside from holding face-to-face tutorials, Grace said that the school was also planning to hold activities for its Foundation Day celebration. “I decided to ignore it, I will not send my kids to school for this,” she said in Filipino.
Asked for a comment, San Antonio maintained that set-up is not yet allowed under the existing protocols. “If they are done as a part of voluntary home visits by teachers, it’s okay,” he said. “But if the children will be asked to go to the school, I think this is not right,” he added.
Concerned parents were also directed to send queries or complaints to DepEd for verification and appropriate action.