During the expansion phase of limited face-to-face classes, the Department of Education (DepEd) is allowing schools to extend the hours of in-person sessions for teaching and learning.

In a virtual briefing this week, Education Assistant Secretary Malcolm Garma said that expansion schools will be given “flexibility” in contact time for teaching and learning to maximize the hours children spend during the expanded limited face-to-face classes.

Garma explained that during the pilot run of limited face-to-face classes held from November to December last year, participating schools were only allowed to allot three to four hours for teaching and learning.

“Based on our findings , the students felt that the time they are in school was not enough,” Garma said in a mix of English and Filipino.

The teachers, he added, also gave the same feedback --- noting that the time for face-to-face sessions was not enough to cover the lessons.

“We want to put or set time for the protocols, meaning the contact time will include reminders on health protocols so we would like to add some time ,” he added.

In the pilot run, Garma explained that the allotted time was in consideration of the recommendation of pediatric experts and the Department of Health (DOH).

“We want to avoid eating at schools because the children will have to take off their masks... it involves a lot of management issues,” Garma said.

Based on the interim guidelines on the expansion of limited face-to-face classes issued by DepEd, “schools are given flexibility in contact time for teaching and learning, provided that meals are not taken in school except during managed recess.”

Managed recess, Garma explained, will allow children to have some snacks while they are in school as long as these are overseen by their teachers.

As there will be schools that will be having one or more shifts, Garma said that the DepEd is initially considering extending the contact during expanded face-to-face classes for “at least five hours.”

Aside from extending contact time for teaching and learning, Garma said that the expanded face-to-face classes will also include other grade levels.

“It will now cover Kinder to Grade 12, that’s part of the expansion phase,” he explained.

READ:

https://mb.com.ph/2022/02/03/deped-expanded-face-to-face-classes-to-include-other-grade-levels/

In the pilot run, only select Kinder to Grades 1 to 3 students and Senior High School (SHS) students that need laboratories were allowed to participate based on the recommendation of pediatric and health experts.

The expanded face-to-face classes, Garma said, will also give the “same that kind of opportunity and chance” to students in other grade levels to experience the school setting even amid the pandemic.

However, Garma reminded that while schools may already include other grade levels during the expansion phase, this will still depend on their capacity to find the “right combination and programming” to ensure the safety of learners and teachers.

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