DepEd reconsiders limited face-to-face classes in COVID-19-free areas after recent developments on vaccine

On Tuesday, the Department of Education (DepEd) said that recent developments on the coronavirus vaccine made them to reconsider the possibility of limited in-person classes in "safe areas."

We are studying that possibility but definitely, not this year. Definitely, not until the President makes a pronouncement,

Education Secretary Leonor Briones said in an online Palace briefing.

The department is already preparing a report for the president on the distance learning currently implemented.

Klaro naman kung magkaroon ng face-to-face [classes], it will be very limited to areas which are absolutely safe. There will be conditions from the Department of Health (DOH), there will also be conditions coming from us. It will not be, lahat lahat, sabay sabay na mag face-to-face [classes], no,

she explained.

Briones said, if DepEd will push for in-person classes next year, it will still depend on the health situation of the areas; it will also be assessed by DOH and the Inter-Agency Task Force on Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF).

If there are areas where it’s safe and will get clearance from the Department of Health and the IATF, kasi sila ang nag-a-assess ng health situation, at saka depende sa approach yan kasi yung number of students, etc. We are now looking into that but ulitin ko, definitely not this year,

Briones said.