More than 6,000 schools nationwide are ready to implement the expansion phase of limited face-to-face classes, the Department of Education (DepEd) on Friday, Feb. 4, said.
In a virtual press briefing, Education Secretary Leonor Briones said that the policy to resume limited face-to-face classes in the expansion phase has already been approved and ready for implementation.
Briones said that DepEd already has an “inventory” of schools that are ready for face-to-face classes. “This is why the risk level or category is very important and we rely on the DOH on this,” she explained in a mix of English and Filipino.
In his presentation, Assistant Secretary Malcolm Garma said that 6,347 schools have been “assessed and deemed ready” for the expansion phase of limited face-to-face classes based on the Alert Level Classification per Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF) Resolution 159-A.
Garma says there are 6, 347 public schools that "already underwent assessment and deemed ready" to be included in the expanded face-to-face classes @manilabulletin pic.twitter.com/B7HMjLEZVc
— Merlina Hernando-Malipot (@MB_InaHernando) February 4, 2022
Of this number, Garma said that 304 schools “are ready to start” to implement limited face-to-face classes since these schools are located in areas that are under Alert Level 2.
Of the 304 schools allowed to implement expanded face-to-face classes, Garma said that there are 123 schools in the National Capital Region (NCR), 12 schools in Region 2; 106 schools in Region 3; and 54 schools in Region IV-A.
Garma said that the remaining 6, 043 schools that were assessed are not yet allowed to implement expanded face-to-face classes because these are located in areas under Alert Level 3.
In the expansion phase of limited face-to-face classes, Garma said that the Regional Directors (RDs) were authorized when it comes to matters related to this policy.
“Di na kailangan ng (They do not need) go signal from the Central Office, as long as the schools are qualified under SSAT ,” Garma said.
Garma said that since the declaration of alert levels is “very dynamic,” RDs are authorized to make decisions on the face-to-face classes based on the conditions on the ground.
READ:
https://mb.com.ph/2022/02/02/deped-allows-progressive-expansion-of-face-to-face-classes-for-public-private-schools/