DepEd supports face-to-face classes along with conditions to be fulfilled

On Wednesday, the Department of Education (DepEd) said it would recommend again the resumption of face-to-face classes to President Rodrigo Duterte in areas that have zero or low COVID-19 transmission. 

The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) is against the idea even in areas that have zero or low COVID-19 transmission, but the DepEd and the Department of Health (DOH) are open to it. 

Education Undersecretary Nepomuceno Malaluan said they remain supportive of calls of holding select classroom teaching as it is crucial in the learning process of students. 

The Department of Education recognizes that reintroducing face-to-face classes is important in the children's learning process that's why we are keenly interested in reintroducing it when the time comes and upon the approval of the President,

he said. 

For the possible resumption of face-to-face classes, Malaluan said they were considering 3 things: 

1. The department are evaluating epidemiological evidence on the odds of children contracting COVID-19 and if they are more contagious than adults. 
2. Should it push through, stringent health measures such as mandatory wearing of face masks and observing physical distancing will be imposed by the department. 
3. The education official stressed that conducting face-to-face classes should be a shared responsibility by DepEd, local officials and other stakeholders. They may also have to ask for consent from parents about sending their children back to school. 

However, the department stressed that the president has the final say on the matter.