59 public schools to hold pilot test for five weeks up to Dec. 22
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MANILA, Philippines (Covid-19)
New Cases: 10,723
Total Cases: 2,613,070 Recovered: 2,471,165 Deaths: 38,828
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Limited face-to-face classes will begin Nov. 15 starting with 59 public schools, the Department of Education (DepEd) said Wednesday.
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Based on the list released by DepEd, four schools are from Luzon, 15 from Visayas, and 40 from Mindanao.
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At a Senate hearing, Education Undersecretary Nepomuceno Malaluan said the pilot test of face-to-face classes amid the COVID-19 pandemic was timed with the start of the second quarter of the school year, and would last until Dec. 22.
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The in-person classes would then be assessed and the pilot study would end on Jan. 31, 2022.
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The department would then evaluate, identify more schools for the expansion of the pilot run, inspect sites and conduct dry runs and present their expansion plans to President Rodrigo Duterte in February 2022.
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If the proposal is approved, the expanded pilot run of face-to-face classes would begin on March 7, 2022.
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With the Philippines one of the last countries to keep schools closed during the pandemic, the President approved limited face-to-face classes in September in areas with a low risk of COVID-19 infection.
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The pilot would involve 100 public schools and 20 private schools, covering Kindergarten to Grade 3 students.
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The DepEd announced an initial 59 public schools from 638 nominated schools.
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The department said it would provide “a rolling assessment” every Monday to increase the number of participating schools to 120.
