The Department of Education (DepEd) on Friday (Sep. 17) said it is prepared for the start of the pilot face-to-face classes for the school year 2021 to 2022.
In today’s Laging Handa public briefing, DepEd Sec. Leonor Briones said they have initially identified 1,900 schools that qualified and was reduced to 600 schools. She added that they are ready to implement the face-to-face classes in 100 public schools and 20 private schools.
“Mahabang panahon na ang aming nagugol at saka ang aming pag-iisip, pagri-reflect, pag-aaral dito sa pilot face-to-face, so handa na kami. Initially, we identified 1,900 schools na mag-qualify, ito ay na-reduce to 600 plus schools. Ngayon ay handa kami na mag-i-implement ng face-to-face in 100 public schools and 20 private schools.”
Briones said they are only awaiting for President Rodrigo Roa Duterte’s “go-signal” to implement the classes.
“Ang hinihintay na lamang ay ang go-signal ng Presidente. Pero handa ang Department of Education para sa pilot.”
She bared that the health experts advised to start the implementation of the face-to-face classes on the lower grade level because they are more “resilient,” they are in need of the face-to-face classes for their growing years especially in molding their character and conduct.
“Ang advice ng ating mga health experts ay mas mabuti kung sa lower grades pag-umpisahan ang face-to-face, dahil ang mga lower grades, mga bata, una resilient sila, pangalawa ay sila ang nangangailangan ng face-to-face at saka sa growing years nila, importante na i-mold na iyong kanilang character, kanilang study habits, ang kanilang good manners and right conduct at iba pang mga pag-uugali na kailangang i-implant na sa mga bata.”
Meanwhile, the DepEd chief said the first week of the SY 2021-2022 has been successful nationwide. Based on the department’s data, more students have enrolled for this school year at 27,583,701 enrollees compared to the number of enrollees in SY 2020-2021 at 26,227,022.
In relation to this, the department said it is focusing on reducing the dependency on printed materials and strengthening the digitalization of modules.
“Baka mag-shift tayo gradually, bawas-bawasan natin iyong ating dependency sa mga printed materials dahil nakakasira ito sa environment – nangangailangan ng papel, magpuputol tayo ng kahoy. So strengthen natin iyong digitalization ng ating pagpapaaral.”
Report from Louisa Erispe/NGS-rir
