Even if in-person learning becomes mandatory for all schools starting in November, the Department of Education (DepEd) clarified that face-to-face classes may still be declared suspended by local government units (LGUs).
“Regardless of Alert Level, in-person classes or classes in general will continue,” said DepEd Spokesman Michael Poa in a presser last week.
The authority to suspend classes in times of calamity, he said, can be localized, so suspending in-person classes due to Covid-19 also falls under the authority of the local governments.
“In times of calamity, LGUs have the prerogative to cancel or suspend classes --- that’s within their power and authority,” Poa explained in a mix of English and Filipino.
Regardless of Covid-19 Alert Levels, Poa stressed that the overall guidelines of DepEd state that classes will continue this incoming School Year (SY) 2022-2023.
READ:
https://mb.com.ph/2022/08/11/deped-measures-in-place-to-ensure-safety-of-learners-for-face-to-face-classes/
“Our neighboring countries, halos lahat bumalik na sa (almost all of them returned to) in-person classes and other studies show that there is no direct correlation between in-person classes and Covid-19 transmission,” Poa said.
“As you’ve seen last year, even without face-to-face classes, may (there were still) surges pa din ng (in) cases,” he added.
RELATED STORY:
https://mb.com.ph/2022/08/13/deped-to-release-guidelines-reiterating-safety-health-standards-for-in-person-classes/