The Department of Education (DepEd) expressed openness to shorten the timeline for the implementation of limited face-to-face classes set to start next month.
“We are considering that suggestion from our counterparts in the legislative department,” said DepEd Undersecretary and Chief of Staff Nepomuceno Malaluan during the Laging Handa public briefing on Thursday, Oct. 7.
Malaluan said that DepEd welcomes the recommendation of some senators to shorten the timeline for limited face-to-face classes in low risk areas.
“Kino-consider natin iyan ‘no. Pero itong pilot na ito, kaya napakasusi, sa tingin natin ay very critical to the expansions (We’re considering this, that’s why this pilot is studied carefully because it is very critical to the expansions),” he Malaluan explained.
Based on the timeline released by DepEd, the pilot study for limited face-to-face classes in select schools will start on Nov. 15, 2021 and will end on Jan. 31, 2022.
READ:
https://mb.com.ph/2021/10/06/deped-releases-timeline-of-pilot-face-to-face-classes-for-school-year-2021-2022/
In coordination with the Department of Health (DOH), a total of 120 schools will be included in the pilot run. It will include 95 public elementary schools, five senior high schools, and 20 private elementary schools.
So far, only 59 schools out of the 638 schools nominated by DepEd have been approved by the DOH to conduct limited in-person classes.
READ:
https://mb.com.ph/2021/10/06/deped-names-59-schools-included-in-pilot-run-of-limited-face-to-face-classes-to-start-on-nov-15/
“So we are being very careful with this phase, kasi kahit maliit lamang na school ang participating dito ay malaki ang impact nito doon sa (because even if it only includes a small number of participating schools, there will be a big impact on the) expansion phase,” Malaluan said.
Data from Education Management Information System Division-Planning Service of DepEd showed that there are 47, 421 public schools and 13, 256 private schools nationwide.
“Nonetheless, yes, we are considering it,” Malaluan said, noting that after the Senate committee meeting on Oct. 6, a meeting with the technical team of DepEd was held “just to review again.”
DepEd’s timeline also showed that after the end of pilot study, an evaluation will be conducted and this will be the basis of DepEd’s presentation to the President of the pilot report and proposed expansion eyed to start on March 7, 2022.
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