More schools to join pilot in-person classes

SAFETY FIRST IN CLASS Teachers Lynell Corbito and Aida Conchada prepare a classroom for the resumption of in-person classes in Tamulaya Elementary School in Polilio Island, Quezon province. —RICHARD A. REYES

MANILA, Philippines — More schools will be included in the pilot run of in-person classes starting next week after President Duterte approved its proposed expansion, according to the Department of Education (DepEd).

“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 [in-person] classes,” the agency said in a statement on Friday.

The DepEd, along with the Department of Health (DOH), has assessed that there were more schools qualified to be included in the list “given the continuous improvement of the COVID-19 situation in many localities around the country.”

Citing figures from the DOH, the DepEd said 484 out of the 638 schools passed their granular risk assessment and were considered to be “minimal or low risk.”

The DepEd said they received appeals from local governments, including those from the National Capital Region, to have schools in their jurisdiction selected in the pilot implementation of physical classes.

The agency earlier identified 100 public schools to proceed with in-person classes on Nov. 15, while 20 private schools would start a week after on Nov. 22. These would cover classes in kindergarten, Grades 1, 2 and 3, and senior high school.

The final number of public schools to participate in the pilot implementation would be determined based on the DepEd’s “evaluation of school readiness and DOH assessment of the COVID-19 risk level.”

“With operational guidelines and our shared responsibility framework in place, we assure everyone that this pilot program will remain consistent with relevant public health standards, rules and regulations,” the DepEd said.

Based on the list published by the DepEd, of the 100 public schools to implement in-person classes, none were in Metro Manila, despite being on alert level 2.

There would be 14 participating schools from Caraga, and 10 each from the Ilocos Region, Central Luzon, Eastern Visayas and Northern Mindanao.

Other schools that will implement in-person classes will be from the Bicol Region (nine), Central Visayas (eight), Zamboanga Peninsula (eight), Davao Region (eight), Calabarzon (five), Soccsksargen (five) and Western Visayas (three).