DepEd Studies – face-to-face classes in 1,000 schools

A total of 1,114 of the 60,000 public schools in the country, mainly in the regions of Calabarzon (Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal and Quezon) and Eastern Visayas, have been nominated for inclusion in the pilot test of limited face-to-face classes in January . .

Education Secretary Leonor Briones told a press conference on Wednesday that there was a high demand for the resumption of face-to-face classes in the two regions, while school officials in Metro Manila, the Davao region and the city of Cotabato had begged not to participate.

However, he clarified that the final number of candidate schools would be “a lot [fewer]”As the Department of Education (DepEd) has to consider other factors that would ensure a conducive learning environment while minimizing the risk of COVID-19 infection.

Shared responsibility

DepEd released the initial conditions the other day for conducting the pilot test while emphasizing the need for “shared responsibility” between the agency, participating local government units (LGUs), and the students’ parents.

Among other conditions, face-to-face classes would only be allowed in areas classified as “low risk” or under modified general community quarantine.

LGUs must also consider the safety of public transport, according to Briones.

Additionally, school cafeterias would be prohibited from serving buffet-style meals that encourage sharing of utensils, while class sizes would be reduced from the average of 30 to 40 students to just 15 to 20 to maintain physical distancing.

DepEd’s chief of staff, Nepomuceno Malaluan, said the face-to-face classes would be combined with the distance learning program, as students would be required to attend sessions at school only once or twice a week.

While progressive groups lobbied for mass testing and extensive contact tracking before the government conducts the test, Malaluan said rapid tests for teachers “[was] It is not necessary.”

“At a minimum, we will have screenings based on symptoms [for teachers and students]. You have to be certain that they do not have exposure to the virus or have symptoms, “he added.

Clear policies and guidelines

ACT Teachers representative France Castro on Wednesday called on the Department of Education to “establish clear policies and specific guidelines” for the pilot test to ensure there will be no COVID-19 outbreak.

“DepEd must be sure then where the start signal would come from if it is really safe to undergo face-to-face classes in the identified areas. It must be ensured that minimum health standards and protocols will be strictly observed; There should also be full hand washing and sanitation facilities, including sufficient water supply in all schools, ”he said in a statement.

“It is also imperative that there is at least one nurse stationed per school,” he added.

Castro said DepEd must ensure that there will be no COVID-19 outbreak when in-person classes resume, calling for free medical check-ups, health screenings and mass tests for those participating in the trial. —WITH A REPORT FROM NESTOR CORRALES

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