DepEd expects more schools to join the expansion phase of face-to-face classes


Depending on the changes in the alert levels in various areas, the Department of Education (DepEd) expressed optimism that more schools will be qualified to participate in the expansion phase of face-to-face classes.

(MANNY LLANES / MANILA BULLETIN)

“Katatapos lang natin noong kanilang mid-year calendar break at naging maayos ang feedback sa atin noong mga nag-umpisa na (We just finished the mid-year calendar break and the feedback from those who started was good),” DepEd Undersecretary Nepomuceno Malaluan said in “Laging Handa” public briefing on Friday, Feb. 11.

After getting the approval of the President on its recommendation for the expansion of limited face-to-face classes in January, DepEd said that 304 schools were qualified to resume in-person classes starting this month.

On Feb. 9, DepEd said that 39 schools in Metro Manila were able to resume limited face-to-face classes under the expansion phase. Of this number, 28 were among the pilot schools that started in November.

READ:

https://mb.com.ph/2022/02/09/expansion-phase-of-limited-face-to-face-classes-resume-in-metro-manila-schools/

Malaluan said that the number of schools that will be allowed to hold limited face-to-face classes “will progressively increase in the coming days” especially if the Alert Level 2 expands after Feb. 15 which is covered by the existing alert levels.

Should there be no significant changes in the list of areas under the alert levels, Malaluan said that DepEd will continue to update the inventory of schools that have been assessed and evaluated to hold in-person classes.

DepEd earlier said that there are at least 6,500 schools that have been assessed and “deemed ready” for the expansion phase.

READ:

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

Malaluan explained that as soon as the areas --- where the 6,500 schools are located --- were placed under Alert Level 2, they could start holding the expanded face-to-face classes.

The number of expansion schools, Malaluan said, “will increase on a rolling basis.”

He added that those schools that are not yet included in DepEd’s inventory of “compliant schools” will be monitored so they can comply with the requirements as stated in the Schools Safety Assessment Tool (SSAT).
Malaluan explained that the number of schools that will join the progressive expansion of face-to-face classes will continue to increase.

“After looking at their checklist and there are gaps, if they fulfill that, then they will join the number of what we call ‘compliant’ schools --- that’s why we call this progressive expansion phase this is on a rolling basis,” Malaluan said.

To date, Malauan said that more public schools were deemed ready to hold limited face-to-face classes.

“We have to check on our private schools on their intent to also join the expansion phase,” he added.

RELATED STORY:

https://mb.com.ph/2022/02/02/deped-sets-starting-dates-for-expanded-face-to-face-classes/