MANILA, Philippines — No COVID-19 infection has so far been reported among students and teachers taking part in the pilot face – to -face classes, Department of Education (DepEd) Undersecretary Nepomuceno Malaluan reported on Monday.
Pilot in-person classes started on Nov. 15 with 118 participating schools and about 7,000 learners across the country.
Malaluan said there were reports that some school children exhibited flu-like symptoms but did not test positive and were not allowed to go to school.
“So far, wala tayong naitatala na actual na confirmed na positive case of COVID in all of our participating pilot schools at sana magpatuloy yan in the coming days,” he said in a Laging Handa public briefing.
(So far, we have not recorded an actual confirmed positive case of COVID-19 in all of our participating pilot schools and we hope that can continue in the coming days.)
An additional 174 schools opened face-to-face classes, including 28 in Metro Manila on Monday as part of the second batch of the pilot implementation.
DepEd may soon submit its recommendation on the possible expansion the pilot implementation.
“Since so far ay maganda ang tinatakbo, ang ating ina-anticipate ay ang magiging recommendation na pagpapalawak nito sa expanded phase early next year,” he said.
(Since the pilot is doing good so far, we are anticipating that our recommendation would be to expand the program early next year.)
Malaluan said Education Secretary Leonor Briones has directed DepEd officials to instruct all public and private schools to prepare for the expansion.