The Department of Education (DepEd) said that it is not going back out of its plan to pursue the expansion of limited face-to-face classes in January despite the looming threat of the Omicron variant of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19).
As far as policy level is concerned, there is no pushing back [on the timeline of expanding in-person classes]. For as long as it [Omicron variant] is not here, for as long as the danger perceived is milder,
Education Secretary Leonor Briones said on Friday, Dec. 10.
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Currently, a total of 177 public schools along with numerous private schools are participating on the pilot face-to-face classes which started on Nov 15. It will run until the end of December although DepEd hopes it will be expanded by January of 2022.
The DepEd, through a memorandum dated Dec. 9, 2021, directed all public and private schools to prepare for the implementation of the expanded phase of the face-to-face classes targeted to start in early 2022. All grade levels from Kinder to Grade 12 will be covered.
Briones assured they are coordinating with the Department of Health (DOH) and their timeline would primarily depend on the assessment of the health agency.
If [the DOH] says that a particular school or area is not yet ready [for the expanded physical classes], then of course, we need to comply,
Briones said.
She also said that the President Rodrigo Duterte gave the DepEd the discretion to expand for as long as they follow the DOH’s protocols. There should also be a go signal form the local government units and the parents, she added.
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