Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque on Monday, September 20, 2021, announced that limited face-to-face classes in 120 public and private schools in areas with low risk of COVID-19 has been approved by President Rodrigo Duterte.
According to Roque, the face-to-face classes will be limited to only half a day and every other week. He added that this is not just an issue of education but also an issue of mental health and the economy.
The Department of Education (DepEd) welcomed the decision of Duterte to approve the pilot implementation of face-to-face classes.
Education Secretary Leonor Briones said that 100 public schools and 20 private schools are being eyed for the gradual normalization of classes.
She added that these schools should strictly follow the minimum health standards during the dry run of the face-to-face classes.
“Ang face-to-face na konsepto ngayon, iba sa face-to-face na kilala natin. Ini-schedule ito ng husto at strictly monitored pati ‘yong kilos ng mga bata,” she expressed.
Briones explained that under the guidelines for face-to-face classes, Kindergarten classes will have 12 students while Grade 1 to 3 classes will have 16 students and the classes must only last for a maximum of three hours.
Briones added that they are looking to eventually extend the implementation of face-to-face classes to more schools when the pilot classes prove to be safe and effective.
“Kung safe ang pilot and it is effective then we will gradually increase pero ang mahalaga, bantayan natin kung ano ang risk assessment. Kapag may pagbabago sa risk assessment then talagang ititigil natin,” she said.