Pilot run for in-person learning set on Jan. 11 with smaller class size, reduced hours
MANILA, Philippines — Government on Tuesday said the pilot run for resuming face-to-face classes will begin by January 11 which will take place in areas under modified general community quarantine and will follow staggered schedules and limited class sizes.
In a statement, DepEd reported that its regional directors have already turned in possible sites for the trial to Secretary Leonor Briones, who has until December 28 to decide based on a timeline released by Malacañang Tuesday.
The Duterte Cabinet approved the agency's proposal for a test run in its meeting on Monday, with presidential spokesperson Harry Roque admitting that the primary consideration was that the distance learning setup marred by difficulties "is far from ideal."
Education officials said only a limited number of public schools would be designated for the move and the in-person classes will not be on a full-week schedule.
"They will be under staggered or intermittent schedule, and with reduced class size to allow proper physical distancing within the classroom," DepEd said.
Apart from being under MGCQ, those selected should also have plans for managing students in classrooms as well as ensuring that health standards are followed even during their travel to and from the schools.
"There must be a commitment for shared responsibility of DepEd, the local government unit, and the parents or guardians," the agency added.
In a Palace briefing Tuesday, Roque said the actual run would be from January 11 until January 23, with the last week of the month for submitting final recommendations for the president's decision on what happens next.
Duterte had disallowed the conduct of physical learning this year due to the coronavirus pandemic, and he has said that he will not allow its resumption until a vaccine for the COVID-19 is already available.
The new learning setup, however, has encountered challenges such as stable internet access, errors in materials, as well as difficulty in obtaining gadgets for the online classes.
DepEd has tapped TV, radio and the internet aside from its printed modules in its push for distance learning which had been met by calls from groups to postpone.
There are over 25 million Filipino students enrolled for the school year that began in October, a figure that has seen a significant decrease of two million in enrollees from the 27 million in schools in 2019.
The department had since said that they are leaving it up to schools and its division offices to put up programs for students who opted to skip the year.
RELATED: How will learning for out-of-school youth continue amid COVID-19 pandemic?
Follow this thread for updates on when classes will resume, and how those classes will be conducted.
Photo: Students wearing protective face masks have their temperatures taken while entering their college campus in Manila on January 31, 2020. AFP/Ted Aljibe
DepEd says School Year 2022-2023 "shall open on Monday, August 22, 2022, and shall end on July 7, 2023. It shall consist of 203 school days or as may be determined by further issuance/s in case of changes in the school calendar due to unforeseen circumstances."
Sen. Nancy Binay calls on the Commission on Higher Education and the inter-agency task force on COVID-19 not to "burden" students over requirements for face-to-face classes.
Higher educations students are being required to present medical insurance and other documents before participating in face-to-face classes.
“This is a cumbersome and unnecessary requirement para sa college students, considering that by law, all Filipinos are automatic members of PhilHealth. Sa totoo lang, 'di kailangang dagdagan ang proseso, dapat nga mas simplehan pa,” Binay says.
The Department of Education announces that it will increase the number of participating schools in the pilot implementation of face-to-face classes.
"The expansion of the number of pilot schools will allow a greater degree of experience among all our regions that will serve us well for the expanded phase of face-to-face classes," DepEd says.
With the approval of the Office of the President, the Department of Education is announcing that it will increase the number of participating schools in the pilot implementation of face-to-face classes.
— DepEd (@DepEd_PH) November 11, 2021
Read: https://t.co/cCqC91kZPw pic.twitter.com/Us3GvFxp1F
COVID-19 immunization has started for tertiary students in Ilocos Norte as part of the massive vaccination campaign of the Commission on Higher Education.
This in preparation for the reopening of in-person tertiary classes, CHED-Regional Office 1 said as a ceremonial vaccination of students at Mariano Marcos State University was held on Monday in collaboration with the Department of Health, Department of Interior and Local Government, the provincial government and Mariano Marcos Memorial Hospital and Medical Center.
About 800 students are expected to be inoculated through the CHED immunization drive.
Prior to this, MMSU had already vaccinated 75% of its student population. — The STAR/Artemio Dumlao
President Rodrigo Duterte has authorized limited face-to-face classes for the following programs:
- Engineering and Technology programs
- Hospitality/ Hotel and Restaurant Management
- Tourism/ Travel Management
- Marine Engineering
- Marine Transportation
Commission on Higher Education Chairman Popoy De Vera, who made the announcement, said the authorization applies to "degree programs that require hands-on experience in higher education institutions under Modified General Community Quarantine."
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