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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider Senators quiz DepEd on preparedness for face-to-face classes

Senators quiz DepEd on preparedness for face-to-face classes

Published Aug 19, 2022 01:52 pm

Senators on Friday expressed concern over the preparedness of the Department of Education (DepEd) for the start of face-to-face classes amid Covid-19 pandemic.

During Friday's hearing of the Committee on Basic Education, Senator Nancy Binay asked DepEd Undersecretary Epimaco Densing III if the agency already has protocols in place in case there will be Covid-19 cases reported in schools.

"Doon sa eskwelahan ng anak ko...kunyari x number ang nagpositive, shift ulit to hybrid or online ulit yung classes. May ganoon bang protocol ang binalagkas ng DepEd? (In my children's school, for example, if there's a certain number of Covid-19 positive students, they will immediately shift to online classes. Has DepEd also come up with the same?)" Binay asked.

Densing said the agency already laid out Covid-related protocols under its Department Order No. 34, which includes guidelines on what to do when a student tests positive for the virus or manifests symptoms.

Binay repeated her question and asked if there was a certain number of Covid-19 positive students that would trigger the DepEd to completely return to online learning. But Densing did not respond categorically.

He only said: "Doon sa (Under) Department Order 34, it was clearly mentioned there that regardless of alert level in any area, classes will continue." For Densing, the department order, which was personally reviewed by Vice President and DepEd Sec. Sara Duterte, is their "bible".

The senator then suggested to DepEd to allow schools to suspend classes a lot of the students get infected.

Meanwhile, Senator Robin Padilla also asked the agency if it has a "back-up plan" when there is a surge of cases among students as he cited their case in the Senate, where seven of the 24 senators got infected in just a month.

"What is the back-up plan? Because here in the Senate, we all follow the health protocols but some of us still tested positive for Covid," Padilla said. His concern was echoed by Binay.

For his part, DepEd Undersecretary for Field Operations Revsee Escobedo assured the committee that the protocols are in place for the health, safety, and well-being of learners, teachers, and other school staff.

Escobedo added that DepEd is prepared to shift to blended learning in case the number of Covid infections in a particular class or school rises.

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Senators deped 81922 covid-19 protocols FACE TO FACE CLASSES
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