The resumption of face-to-face classes amid the Covid-19 pandemic as well as other policies that aim to ensure the health and safety of learners and teachers were among the “major accomplishments” of the Department of Education (DepEd) under the leadership of Vice President Sara Duterte in her first 100 days.

“Talagang ang pinakamalaking accomplishment ng DepED sa pamumuno ni Vice President and Secretary of Education ay yung pagbabalik ng learners to our schools or in-person classes (Indeed, DepED's biggest accomplishment under the leadership of our Vice President and Secretary of Education is the return of learners to our schools or in-person classes),” said DepEd Spokesperson Michael Poa in a press conference on Friday, Oct. 7.

“For the past two years, talagang maraming hindi nakapag-aral sa ating mga kababayan so talagang yun ang pinakamalaking accomplishment natin for the first 100 days, na naibalik natin ito (For the past two years, many Filipinos were not able to continue their studies, so that is really our biggest accomplishment for the first 100 days, that we were able to continue it),” Poa said.

Due to the pandemic, Philippine schools were closed and students continued their studies through distance learning.

This School Year (SY) 2022-2023, DepED finally allowed the resumption of in-person classes in both public and private schools that offer basic education programs.

READ:

https://mb.com.ph/2022/08/21/ph-schools-to-open-sy-2022-2023-with-face-to-face-classes/

Meanwhile, Poa also noted that several policies issued by DepED under Duterte aimed to ensure the health, safety, and protection of learners and teachers.

Poa said that despite the implementation of face-to-face classes in schools, DepED continued to monitor the Covid-19 situation.

“So as you can see, when we asked our learners to go back to schools, we try to do it as safely as possible,” he explained.

In the enrollment guidelines released by DepED before the opening of classes for SY 2022-2023 on Aug. 22, Poa noted that three options were given to enrollees “not just for their convenience” but also to ensure that safety protocols are observed.

Poa said that the issuance of the School Calendar for SY 2022-2023 under DepED Order No. 34 s. of 2022 not only enumerated the activities for this school year but also outlined the safety protocols that should be in place in schools.

The issuance of the new guidelines on the suspension of classes, Poa said, is also another notable accomplishment under Duterte’s first three months as DepED chief.

“Naglabas din tayo ng suspension of classes na guidelines para di na malito ang ating mga learners at hindi na mailagay sa alanganin (We have also issued suspension of classes guidelines so that our learners will not be confused and put in trouble).” Poa said.

The goal of the newly-issued guidelines, he explained, is to ensure the safety of learners. “Ayaw natin na pumapasok na yun learners, biglang nag-suspinde ng classes at mahirapan lang umuwi (We don't want our learners who are already went to school to have difficulty going home when classes are suddenly suspended),” he Poa said.

READ:

https://mb.com.ph/2022/09/25/deped-new-guidelines-on-suspension-of-classes-work-in-schools-now-effective/

Moreover, Poa also noted the issuance of DepED Order No. 39 series of 2022 or the Health and Safety Protocols in light of the Covid-19 Pandemic.

This, Poa said, is the latest health guidelines issued by DepEd to ensure the safety of learners in schools in terms of public health protocols to prevent a surge in Covid-19 cases.

READ:

https://mb.com.ph/2022/09/23/deped-issues-updated-health-safety-protocols-in-schools-amid-the-covid-19-pandemic/