DepEd urged to ensure the safe implementation of in-person classes next school year
Alliance of Concerned Teachers (ACT) Representative France Castro urged the Department of Education (DepEd) to ensure the safe implementation of face-to-face classes next school year.
“We cannot afford another postponement of classes. DepEd and the administration of Marcos Jr. must make sure that the schools are equipped with adequate resources for safe back-to-school for our students,” said Castro on Sunday, July 10.

Vice President and DepEd chief Sara Duterte, as disclosed by President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr., aims to implement full in-person classes by November after starting face-to-face classes in some schools in September 2022. This was backed by former DepEd Secretary Leonor Briones who previously stated that she expects the 100 percent full implementation of in-person classes next school year.
As schools reopen, it is also important to ensure that health precautions are observed inside and outside classrooms to prevent the possible spread of SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes Covid-19.
Ensuring a safe school environment amid the pandemic is hard. In order to attain this goal, Castro saw the need of employing additional teachers to cater to more sections and ensure that classrooms would only have a maximum of 35 students.
Apart from this, he likewise called on the employment of additional nurses, utility personnel, as well as the provision of health protection and benefits for teachers and non-teaching staff.
This, according to Castro, is why they will be filing a resolution for a supplemental budget for the maintenance and other operating expenses of schools in the country.
“There are steps that DepEd and the Marcos administration can do to ensure safe 100 percent in-person classes in schools for the incoming school year. The government must listen to education stakeholders and prioritize funding for safe and quality back-to-school,” Castro furthered.