The Department of Education (DepEd) will still push for the implementation of blended learning even if schools nationwide are expected to gradually resume face-to-face classes.

At the Laging Handa public briefing on Monday, May 30, DepEd Undersecretary for Curriculum and Instruction Diosdado San Antonio said that schools nationwide are encouraged to conduct face-to-face classes, especially this incoming school year.

“Pero ang tinitingnan po namin na blended, may face-to-face na mga araw at may araw na papayagan na nasa bahay pa rin natututo ang mga bata (But what we are looking at is blended , there are face-to-face days and there are days that will allow the children to still learn at home),” San Antonio explained.

If approved by the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-EID), San Antonio said that all schools nationwide will have face-to-face classes on select days a week.

As it also pushes for the resumption of face-to-face classes in schools that offer basic education, DepEd assures that guidelines are in place to ensure the safety of learners and their school personnel.

“Ang ating mga division offices, at sa guidance ng regional offices ay may kanya-kaniyang mga guidelines na ipapatupad dahil, unang-una, gusto nating matiyak iyong kaligtasan ng mga bata (Our division offices, and with the guidance of the regional offices have their own guidelines to implement because, first and foremost, we want to ensure the safety of children),” Undersecretary for Field Operations Revsee Escobedo said.

Escobedo said that when it comes to schools that will be allowed to hold face-to-face classes, there should be a concurrence of local government units (LGUs) and there should also be consent from the parents of the students who will participate. For the incoming school year, Escobedo said that there are also requests to add more grade levels in the implementation of face-to-face classes.

Another request, he explained, is to increase the number of participating students inside the classrooms.

“But ito ay dapat na pag-usapan nang mahusay at dapat ay alinsunod pa rin sa IATF protocols (But this should be discussed very well and should still be in accordance with IATF protocols),” Escobedo said.

Field officials of DepEd, he added, continue to prepare for the implementation of face-to-face classes in the upcoming school year.