DepEd revises school safety assessment tool for in-person classes

Education Secretary Leonor Briones. MALACANANG FILE PHOTO / ROBINSON NIÑAL JR.

MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Education (DepEd) said Tuesday it has revised the School Safety Assessment Tool (SSAT) that is being used in determining the readiness of schools to participate in the expansion of in-person classes.

In a statement, DepEd said the SSAT was updated based on the monitoring and evaluation results of its pilot implementation and in consideration of the schools’ conditions for safe reopening.

The revised SSAT focuses on four main areas: managing school operations, teaching and learning, well-being and protection, and school-community coordination.

“We ensure that the health, safety, and well-being of our learners, teachers, and personnel remain as our utmost priority. Our revised SSAT will help the Department mobilize the progressive expansion of our face to face classes in areas under Alert 1 and 2,” Education Secretary Leonor Briones said.

DepEd said that under “managing school operations,” schools “need to receive support from community stakeholders, emphasizing the shared responsibility framework.”

“They must conduct simulation activities among school personnel regarding managing the conduct of face-to-face classes, and the school must ensure that learners who will participate in the expansion must submit parent’s consent,” the agency said.

Meanwhile, the main indicator of school’s readiness under “teaching and learning” is the sufficient supply of learning resources needed in the expansion and class programs that cater to students both in face-to-face arrangements and distance learning.

Participating schools should likewise develop strategies to prevent COVID-19 transmission among stakeholders and maintain the provision of basic mental health services and psychosocial support to ensure their well-being and protection.

Further, schools should develop plans for coordination with local government units to ensure that health protocols are properly observed and for the implementation of school-based immunization, among others.

“Our SSAT will not be the final determinant if a school will participate in our progressive expansion. It is our way to prepare our schools for the eventual reopening and to inform them of the required indicators and standards that they need to meet to ensure the safety of our learners and school personnel,” said Briones.

As of April 18, a total of 26,997 schools have been nominated to participate in the expansion of face-to-face classes.

Of these schools, 23,963 are already implementing the progressive expansion of in-person classes, according to DepEd.

RELATED STORIES:

DepEd eases rules for schools to resume in-person classes 

DepEd eyes eased requirements for in-person classes 

JPV