First day of pilot in-person classes successful, says DepEd

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 — The first day of physical classes amid the COVID-19 pandemic was implemented “successfully,” the Department of Education said on Tuesday.

“We are happy to announce that we had a successful first day of face-to-face classes. Malugod po nating tinanggap ang unang mga mag-aaral natin at tumuntong muli sa ating mga paaralan physically matapos ng mahigit isang school year na tayo ay nag-pure distance learning,” Education Undersecretary Nepomuceno Malaluan said during the Palace press briefing.

(We welcomed back our students who returned to schools physically after almost one school year of implemented pure distance learning.)

Malaluan said that the pilot face-to-face classes would allow them to prepare for its possible implementation across the country next year in 2022.

“But, this is preparatory to an expansion phase and we are confident that we will be able to successfully conduct this pilot phase. We will learn from it and so that we will be ready for the implementation and reintroduction of face-to-face classes sa lahat po ng ating mga paaralan sa buong bansa sa susunod na taon (in all schools in the country next year),” he said.

According to Education Secretary Leonor Briones in the Laging Handa briefing, only 97 out of the initial 100 schools conducted in-person classes.

The conduct of physical learning in three schools was halted after some teachers tested positive for COVID-19.

Briones added that 5,000 learners and nearly 1,000 teachers participated in the first day of pilot in-person classes.

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