1,114 schools nominated for pilot implementation of face-to-face classes in January — DepEd

MANILA, Philippines — Regional Directors of the Department of Education (DepEd) nominated a total of 1,114 school candidates for the pilot implementation of the face-to-face classes in January 2021.
Most of them are in Regions 4A and 8 which passed the conditions set by DepEd like location and if the schools have management plans for students, teachers as well as available facilities.
Education Secretary Leonor Briones said they are not expecting all 1,114 schools to qualify as they will still be evaluated.
“The other regions nagba-vary pero ang (vary but the) final listing will be very much lesser than the 1,114 considering na may ibang factor tayong tinitingnan, ikino-consider (that we are also looking into other factors),” the Secretary said.
Meanwhile, schools in Davao Region, Cotabato and the National Capital Region are not included in the list of potential venues for the dry run.
DepEd NCR Director Malcolm Garma said the NCR remains under general community quarantine (GCQ) though they are still hoping for the situation to improve soon.
“Tignan po natin pagdating po ng Enero kung ano po ang magiging estado ng National Capital Region pagdating po sa community quarantine level (Let’s see what the status of the NCR will be come January when it comes to community quarantine level),” he said.
“Maaari pong doon natin ibabatay kung handa na po ang NCR para lumahok sa gagawing pilot limited face to face (We will see then if the NCR is ready to take part of the limited face-to-face classes),” he added.
DepEd also clarified that though face-to-face classes will be implemented, it will not be mandatory for all students given the limited room capacity of 15 to 20 persons.
“Hindi po full class size at hindi rin po full week schedule ang mga bata, kundi combine pa rin po ito sa distance learning (It will not be a full class size nor a full week schedule for the children. It will still be combined with distance learning),” said DepEd Undersecretary Nepomuceno Malaluan. —MNP (with reports from Dante Amento)