The Department of Education (DepEd) will ensure that safety protocols will be strictly implemented in the conduct of face-to-face classes dry-run in select low-risk areas.
DepEd Secretary Leonor Briones said the pilot test has undergone thorough evaluation and was approved by the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-EID).
The approval of local governments and permission of parents or guardians will also be required before students participate. Schools must also be capable of accommodating the dry run.
DepEd Undersecretary Nepomuceno Malaluan explained that the limited face-to-face classes is still part of blended learning which may be conducted once or twice every week with a maximum of 20 students. Rapid tests will not be required for teachers and the screening will be based on symptoms.
Health Secretary Francisco Duque III said that the guidelines will be developed by the DOH and DepEd.
“That is the agreement and very quickly, the proposed pilot implementation of face-to- face classes which has been approved by the President will necessitate the LGU’s support, the consent of the parents.”
Senate Health Committee Chairperson Bong Go personally believes “no (safe) vaccine, no face-to-face classes.”
“‘Pag mayroon naging positibo diyan na isa, back to square one, Back to zero na naman tayo at panibagong contact tracing na naman (If anybody tests positive, we will be back to square one. It will be back to zero and we will have to do another round of contact tracing again),” he stated. – Report from Kenneth Paciente
