DepEd: 90 schools joining pilot run of limited in-person classes as of Oct 25

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MANILA, Philippines — Ninety schools would now participate in the pilot run of limited face-to-face classes starting next month, Department of Education (DepEd) Secretary Leonor Briones reported Monday.

According to a list presented by Briones, no schools from Metro Manila will participate in the pilot run of limited in-person classes as of October 25.

Briones said 10 schools from Region 1 will participate, as well as 10 schools from Region 3; five from the Calabarzon Region; three from the Bicol Region; and three from Region 6.

She added that eight schools from Region 7 will join the pilot face-to-face classes; 10 from Region 8; eight from region 9; six from Region 10; eight from Region 11; five from Region 12; and 14 from the Caraga Region.

The DepEd chief said that initially, more schools were set to participate in the pilot run. However, some local government units (LGUs) decided to recall their participation due to changing COVID-19 risk levels in their areas while some did not pass the School Safety Assessment Tool.

Last week, the agency announced that only 30 schools from the 59 approved to join the in-person classes will participate starting November 15. At the time, DepEd Assistant Secretary Malcolm Garma said the Department of Health’s epidemiology bureau had evaluated the applications of 638 schools.

“So now, ‘yung objective natin na maka-reach ng 100 public schools, 90 na ang ating na-identify. Ito sa opinion, hindi lang ng DepEd kundi pati ng DOH,” Briones said.

The DepEd is eyeing to have 120 schools participate in the pilot run of the limited face-to-face classes.

KGA