Students will still not be allowed to return to school despite the planned opening of the classes this September.
According to Presidential spokesman Harry Roque, the government will continue to prohibit face-to-face classes even after President Duterte approved the school year opening on Sept. 13, 2021.
The distance learning methods will be sustained for the meantime for the protection of the students against the coronavirus outbreak.
"Inaprubahan ng Pangulo ang rekomendasyon ng Department of Education ang pagbubukas ng klase para sa school year 2021-2022 ay Sept. 13, 2021 (The President approved the recommendation of the Department of Education on the opening of classes for school year 2021 to 2022 on Sept. 13, 2021)," Roque said during a televised press briefing Monday, July 19.
"Maaaring magsimula ng mas maagang klase ang mga private schools at non-DepEd schools provided walang face-to-face classes at ang mga nasabing paaralan ay istriktong magpapatupad ng distance learning (Private schools and non-DepEd public schools may already start their classes provided there are no face-to-face classes and that the schools will strictly implement only distance learning modalities)," he said.
READ: Opening of school year 2021-2022 for public schools set on Sept. 13 – DepEd
The President earlier refused to allow the resumption of face-to-face classes, saying he did not want to gamble with the lives of students. He preferred the vaccination of Filipinos before allowing students to attend school in person.
According to Roque, the proposed pilot study on the face-to-face classes in low-risk areas will still depend on the number of people vaccinated against the coronavirus disease. He said if population protection is attained, there could be a possibility of the return of regular schooling.
"I'm enjoining the public, let us get vaccinated so we can return to normal," he said in Filipino.
READ: Duterte still opposed to face-to-face classes, apologizes to parents