Vice President Sara Duterte, who sits as Education secretary in concurrent capacity, is looking to impose full in-person classes by November after starting face-to-face classes in some schools in September this year.
This was revealed by President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. in a press conference held in Malacañang on Tuesday, July 5.
“I think there are some, there are some easy — not naman (that) easy — but there are some things that are immediately accessible in the sense that we can start doing something about it already,” he told reporters.
The Chief Executive was referring to Duterte’s announcement during their Cabinet meeting that “we have a plan for full face-to-face by November of this year.“
Marcos held his first Cabinet meeting under his administration on Tuesday morning before he faced members of the media.
READ: Marcos holds first Cabinet meeting; focus on PH economy
“September we will start a phased face-to-face schooling. And that face-to-face will end up in early November as already 100 percent —100 percent attendance ng mga bata (of the children),” he said, citing Duterte’s announcement.
The President noted the Covid-19 vaccination and other issues will be tackled prior to the conduct of face-to-face classes in all elementary and high schools.
“If I’m going to single out one instruction is that: quickly, let’s get this done quickly. As usual we’re nagmamadali (in a hurry). Of course, we are careful but we are always in a hurry because we have to get much done in very little time,” he said.
In an earlier interview in Davao City after her June 19 inauguration, Duterte said she was “targeting” to implement full face-to-face classes in schools by August.
She also said that Marcos has tasked her to discuss the issues surrounding the country’s K-12 education system.
READ: Incoming DepEd chief VP Sara Duterte to review K-12 program
Former Education chief Leonor Briones seconded this, saying that she expects the 100-percent full implementation of face-to-face classes by next school year, which begins on August 22.
In May, Briones encouraged all public and private schools to return to holding face-to-face classes for the upcoming School Year 2022-23.
At that time, around 73 percent of public schools in the country had already resumed in-person classes.