LET’S FACE IT Ensconced at desks that are far apart and customized with plastic dividers, teachers at Aurora Quezon Elementary School in Manila appear ready for face-to-face classes that, however, will be piloted in 30 schools, instead of 59, outside Metro Manila on Nov. 15. —MARIANNE BERMUDEZ
MANILA, Philippines — From 59 short-listed schools, the Department of Education (DepEd) on Tuesday announced that only 30 schools will participate in the pilot run of limited in-person classes on Nov. 15. Education Assistant Secretary Malcolm Garma told a press briefing that a big factor of being excluded from the initial list was the non-approval of their respective local governments, communities, and parents, as well as the increase of COVID-19 cases in the area. Three of the 30 schools are in the Bicol region, three in Western Visayas, eight in Central Visayas, eight in the Zamboanga Peninsula, six in Northern Mindanao, and two in Soccsksargen. Garma said 46 schools have submitted their appeal to take part in the pilot implementation of in-person classes. “Our objective is to complete the 100 public schools that will begin the pilot [in-person]classes on Nov. 15,” he said. The DepEd is also evaluating 20 private schools to be included in the pilot run.