No shortage of vaccinated teachers to handle face-to-face classes --- DepEd

The Department of Education (DepEd) on Friday, Feb. 4, assured that there would be “no shortage” of vaccinated teachers who will handle face-to-face classes once the expansion phase rolls out.

“Hindi tayo magkakaroon ng shortage na magha-handle ng face-to-face (We will not have a shortage of teachers who will handle face-to-face classes,” Education Secretary Leonor Briones said during a virtual presser on Friday, Feb. 4.

Based on the titled interim guidelines on the expansion of limited face-to-face classes issued by DepEd, “only vaccinated teachers may participate in the face-to-face classes.”

“Mas marami din ang parents na gusto nila na bakunado din ang teachers na mag-handle ng kanilang mga anak (Majority of the parents also prefer that the teachers who will handle their children are vaccinated),” Briones explained.

In the same presser, DepEd Director for Bureau of Learner Support Services Lope Santos III said that as of January this year, 810,300 DepEd personnel are vaccinated against coronavirus disease (COVID-19).

Of this number, Santos said that 121,124 DepEd personnel received their first doses while 689,176 are fully vaccinated or those who have received their second doses.

Santos said that there were 970, 694 DepEd personnel eligible for vaccination. Of this number, 181, 932 are unvaccinated.

With over 80 percent vaccination rate, Briones expressed confidence that there will be no shortage of DepEd personnel, including teaching and non-teaching personnel.

“Walang shortage ng teachers para sa face-to-face classes (There will be no shortage of teachers for face-to-face classes),” Briones said.

DepEd earlier announced that the expansion phase of face-to-face classes would be implemented following the approval of President Duterte.

Based on its data, there are 6,347 schools nationwide that have been “assessed and deemed ready” for the expansion phase of limited face-to-face classes.

READ:

https://mb.com.ph/2022/02/04/deped-over-6000-schools-assessed-and-ready-to-implement-expanded-face-to-face-classes/

Of this number, 304 schools are allowed to implement expanded face-to-face classes from Feb. 1 to 15 since they are located in areas under Alert Level 2.

DepEd conducted the pilot study from November to December 2021. Citing the results of the survey DepEd has conducted during the pilot run, Briones said that parents “were happy” with the arrangements during the pilot run.

Given the result of the pilot run, Briones hoped that there will be no problems when it comes to the expansion phase especially on the availability of vaccinated personnel.

“I don’t think we’re going to encounter any difficulty because usually, supply and demand,” Briones said. “On the part of DepEd, our preference is that they should be vaccinated because we have a sufficient number of teachers,” she added.

Meanwhile, Briones said that DepEd’s preference for vaccinated teachers “does not deprive those who prefer not to be vaccinated of the privilege of serving the DepEd.”

In his presentation, DepEd Undersecretary Wilfredo Cabral explained the alternative work arrangements and alternatives for the personnel.

Briones said that those who are not vaccinated should comply with the alternatives and the outputs that are expected of them.

On requiring vaccinated teachers for face-to-face classes, Briones stressed that these are “protective mechanisms” and that DepEd “cannot be careless” on matters related to the health and safety of learners and its personnel.

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