Committed to developing models for the safe resumption of face-to-face learning, the Department of Education (DepEd) shared last Tuesday, November 23, that no cases of COVID-19 for participating learners and school personnel were recorded during the first week of the pilot implementation of face-to-face classes.
“We would like to commend the tremendous efforts that our valued stakeholders have provided for the successful and safe pilot run of limited face-to-face classes. The involvement of everybody is crucial to the expansion of the implementation,” Secretary Leonor Magtolis Briones shared.
In the EduAksyon press conference, Assistant Secretary for the National Academy of Sports and Field Operations Malcolm Garma highlighted that one of the important aspects of risk assessment is the strict adherence and enforcement of guidelines in ensuring the safety of learners and other personnel in the participating pilot schools’ operations.
“[Bagaman may mga nakapag-ulat] na ilan po sa mga mag-aaral ay nilagnat, ibig sabihin nito ay malinaw sa atin pong mga magulang na kapag ang mga bata ay nakaranas ng ganitong sintomas – ubo, sipon, lagnat, pananakit ng lalamunan – hindi na po nila pinapapasok sa paaralan. I think this is one of the things which we should highlight in terms of orientation and the knowledge of parents regarding the symptoms,” Asec. Garma expressed.
Based on the partial result of the weekly school reporting on the limited F2F classes as of November 24, there were 4,537 learners in Kinder to Grade 3 and Grade 11 to 12 who attended the first week of the pilot run.
“Gusto ko lamang pong banggitin na itong bilang na ibinahagi natin ay maaaring magbago sa mga darating na araw at [ayon sa] sitwasyon, at iyong nakalap nating datos ay kasalukuyang bina-validate rin natin batay sa ating Learner Information System at iyon pong ating Plantilla Items [para sa] mga paaralan na kalahok sa ating pilot face-to-face [classes],” Asec. Garma emphasized.
Meanwhile, Planning Service Director Roger Masapol pointed out the learners’ challenges to be addressed, as well as the experiences of the teachers in the teaching and learning implementation.
“Sobrang nagpapasalamat ang ating mga paaralan at pamunuan nito sa suportang ibinigay not only from DepEd but lalo na sa mga stakeholders na nandoon sa paligid ng school,” Dir. Masapol said as he refers to a positive social media feedback on the pilot run implementation.
According to the latest report dated November 24 from the Planning Service on the pilot run assessment, 62 out of 100 or more than 60% of the schools have already submitted their Week 1 assessment report covering November 15 to 19, 2021. This is understandable because many of the 100 pilot schools are in remote areas with either weak or no internet signal at all. (Deped) -rir
