As it prepares for the expansion phase of the pilot implementation of limited face-to-face classes, the Department of Education (DepEd) said that the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) risk assessment is a very crucial factor especially for schools located in the National Capital Region (NCR).
“Nakahanda naman iyong listahan namin kapag favorable ang risk assessment (We have a list of schools ready once the risk assessment is favorable),” Education Secretary Leonor Briones said during a virtual press briefing on Tuesday, Nov. 23.
Currently, only 120 schools have been allowed to participate in the ongoing pilot run of limited face-to-face classes in basic education. Of this number, 100 are public schools and 20 are private schools.
These schools were chosen by DepEd and the Department of Health (DOH) after undergoing strict evaluation and assessment.
While there is clamor for reopening of schools especially in NCR, Briones noted that there are also some local government units (LGU) that are “hesitant” to resume face-to-face classes -- even on a pilot basis.
“Even in NCR, there are still those who are reflecting and thinking very seriously, especially in areas that have a lot of schools,” Briones explained in a mix of English and Filipino.
DepEd has started the pilot implementation of limited face-to-face classes in public schools on Nov. 15.
A week after, on Nov. 22, private schools followed suit.
The pilot study is expected to run for two months or until January 2022. However, Briones said that more schools are expected to participate in the pilot study since President Duterte has approved the proposal of DepEd and DOH to decide on the implementation phase of limited face-to-face classes.
Briones noted that there is a possibility that schools in Metro Manila would be allowed to join the expansion phase of limited face-to-face classes in 2022 but this will still depend on the risk assessment in the region.
As explained by DepEd earlier, the pilot study has three phases: the pilot implementation, the expansion phase and the reopening of all schools nationwide.
In the same briefing, DepEd Assistant Secretary for Field Operations said that even if the pilot run has just started, the agency has been preparing for the expansion phase. Given the recent developments, Garma said that by December this year, DepEd might be able to get the data it needs on the assessment of pilot face-to-face classes in 120 schools.
With this, the expansion phase may start in January next instead of its original schedule in March 2022.
READ:
https://mb.com.ph/2021/11/15/pilot-face-to-face-classes-begins-in-ph-after-nearly-2-years-of-school-closure-due-to-pandemic/