The Department of Education (DepEd) is “currently revising” the initial list of schools which have been recommended to join the pilot implementation or dry run of limited face-to-face classes.
Undersecretary for Curriculum and Instruction Diosdado San Antonio said the list was being assessed by the department, even as he noted that the preparations for the implementation of limited face-to-face classes continue.
“Wala pa po tayong final na listahan. Nung December po ay 'yung listahan namin mahigit ng 1, 500 pero naririnig namin ang mga suggestion ng iba na pag magpilot tayo o dry run, hindi kailangan marami. Kasalukuyan pong nirerebisa ang mga listahan ( We don’t have final list yet. Last December, our list has more than 1, 500 , but we heard, the suggestions are if we will implement the dry run, we don’t need much. Currently, we are reviewing the list),” he told the ABS-CBN’s Teleradyo in an interview.
He said the priority will be given to schools in areas with zero cases of coronavirus disease (COVID-19), especially during the past month or last February.
San Antonio said the implementation of the physical classes is expected to be “calibrated” and will not be forced if there are opposition from local government units (LGUs) and the parents themselves.
“Kahit napili ang paaralan, kung may magulang na naniniwala na hindi pa safe ang anak nya para lumabas at magpunta sa paaralan, hindi sila pipilitin. (Even if the school is chosen, if there is a parent who believe that it is not safe for his or her child to go out and go to school, they will not be forced),” he said.
During the press briefing of Presidential Spokesperson Secretary Harry Roque, Jr. on Feb. 18, DepEd Secretary Leonor Briones assured the public that stringent measures will be put in place for the safety of both students and teachers should they implement the possible dry run of in-person classes.
In December last year, DepEd proposed the dry run of limited face-to-face classes. President Duterte initially approved such proposal, but was eventually deferred due to the detection of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) UK variant in the country.