DepEd says students not obliged to participate in face-to-face classes dry run

On Tuesday, the Department of Education (DepEd) clarified that learners in low risk areas are not forced to attend face-to-face classes when the department will hold a dry run in January. 

Also, DepEd said learners can continue their online learning. 

Selected schools will require [written] consent from parents allowing their children to join the limited face-to-face classes,

it said. 

On Monday, President Rodrigo Duterte approved the pilot implementation of face-to-face classes in selected schools in low-risk areas for the whole month of January 2021. After that, DepEd will submit its final recommendation regarding the large-scale implementation of physical classes. 

In a virtual press briefing on Wednesday morning, Secretary Leonor Briones said 3 areas, including virus epicenter Metro Manila, asked to not be included in the dry run. The other two were Davao and Cotabato. 

So far, our regional directors last week reported a total of 1,114 schools out of 61,000,

Briones said. 

She noted that the actual number of schools that will participate in the dry run, which is scheduled to take place from January 11 to 23, will be very much lesser than the 1,114.

The schools were nominated by DepEd's regional units. On December 28, Briones will select the final pilot schools.