MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Education (DepEd) has so far recorded 4,468 cases of Covid-19 among its personnel as well as students, an official told senators Wednesday.
“We, in DepEd, have been monitoring our cases of infection within the department both for personnel and learners,” DepEd Undersecretary and spokesperson Nepomuceno Malaluan said during a hearing by the Senate basic education committee.
DepEd has so far recorded 1,638 Covid-19 cases among learners and 2,830 among its teaching and non-teaching personnel, he said.
According to Malaluan’s presentation, Quezon province has the most number of Covid-19 cases among learners, and DepEd staffers at 193.
The committee, chaired by Senator Win Gatchalian, is tackling the impact of the pandemic on the country’s education system.
The committee is also being briefed on DepEd’s “self-assessment for school readiness.”
On Tuesday, the Senate adopted a resolution recommending the “safe reopening of schools” through the immediate launching of the pilot testing of limited face-to-face classes in low-risk areas.
According to senators, the safe reopening of physical classes through a limited dry run of face-to-face classes in low-risk areas will enable DepEd “to gather evidence on the ground and design a framework for the safe reopening of schools.”
Earlier, DepEd proposed that limited face-to-face class pilot tests be conducted in January. President Rodrigo Duterte initially approved the proposal but later recalled his approval due to the threat of the new coronavirus variant that was first detected in the United Kingdom.
The President, however, allowed in January the resumption of limited face-to-face classes for medical and allied health programs in institutions located in general community quarantine (GCQ) and modified GCQ areas.