DepEd: 3 schools defer in-person classes as teachers test positive for COVID

Grade school students at the Longos Elementary School in the coastal village of Alaminos City in Pangasinan province return to their classrooms during the first day of the pilot run of the in-person classes nationwide. (Photos courtesy of Alaminos Public Information Office)

MANILA, Philippines — Three out of the 100 participating public schools have put off their conduct of pilot face-to-face classes amid the pandemic after teachers tested positive for COVID-19, Education Secretary Leonor Briones said Tuesday.

“Ang initial assessment namin ay 100 ang target natin sa mga public schools, 97 natuluyan kahapon na talagang nag-umpisa… Tapos ‘yung tatlong schools, dinefer muna namin dahil may teachers na nag-positive,” Briones said during the Laging Handa briefing.

(Our initial assessment is out of the 100 target public schools, 97 pushed through with the implementation yesterday. The other three schools deferred because there were teachers who tested positive for COVID-19.)

Briones said the three affected schools may continue their implementation by November 22, along with the opening of physical classes in 20 private schools.

“By next week, by November 22, ‘yung 100 schools kumpleto na. Right now, repeat test ang tatlong teachers,” she said.

(By next week, by November 22, the 100 schools will be complete. Right now, the teachers are just undergoing a repeat test.)

READ: 2 Zambales schools postpone in-person classes after 7 teachers test positive for COVID-19

Meanwhile, Education Undersecretary Revsee Escobedo said DepEd is looking into opening classes across the country.

“Kino-consider namin na ang lahat ng rehiyon, magkaroon ng pilot testing pero mahalaga muna na magkaroon kami ng assessment dito sa 100 schools na aming na-pilot for limited face-to-face classes,” he said.

(We are considering a pilot test in every region but it is important first to assess the 100 schools that are under the pilot in-person classes.)

Based on the agency’s records, 5,000 students and almost 1,000 teachers participated in the pilot run of physical classes amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

The pilot face-to-face classes would run from November 15 to January 31, 2022.

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