Strict protocols of in-person classes assured

The Department of education (Deped) has assured strict implementation of health and safety protocols during the pilot testing of limited face-to-face classes next month.

in an interview over Daily Tribune’s Gising Na!, Deped Planning Service director roger Masapol underscored the importance of “shared responsibility” framework in ensuring safe operations of the pilot implementation of in-person classes.

“That is why we pay attention to shared responsibility in our framework. We execute parental consent to the parents so they know what they are going to enter, and they know the consequences as well if they allow their children to attend face-to-face classes, though we don’t want that to happen,” he explained.

Masapol said all participating schools will set up an isolation area to temporarily isolate students who have been infected with covid-19 or showed symptoms inside the class to avoid further transmission of the virus.

“They will be assisted by medical personnel if they need to undergo testing or they need to isolate at their house or take to the hospital,” he added.

According to Masapol, the education department is now preparing the home school coordination wherein right within the child’s family, right inside the house, will have health and safety protocols.

“We will subject it to our orientation,” he said.

“The school needs to know the situation of the child and the parent just before leaving the gate. if the parent sees that his/ her child has a cough or other symptoms, they will no longer be allowed to go to school,” the Deped official explained.

At least 30 public schools nationwide were selected to hold a dry-run of limited in-person classes on 15 November.

“That’s the final date of the pilot face-to-face classes for our public schools. But the private schools will start a week after because the process of choosing schools (20 private schools) here is quite long,” Masapol said.