Duterte OKS limited face-to-face learning in ‘low-risk’ areas

SOME schools in areas with lowrisk levels of novel coronavirus disease (Covid-19) infections may be allowed to hold limited faceto-face classes next year.

This after President Duterte approved on Monday evening the proposal of the Department of Education (Deped) to implement the said arrangement to allow more students to continue their education during community quarantines.

In her approved proposal, Education Secretary Leonor Magtolisbriones said the limited face-toface classes will be implemented starting in January 2021.

In an online news briefing on Tuesday, Presidential spokesman Harry Roque said the scheme will only be allowed in areas, which would be classified by the Inter-agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF) as low risk for Covid-19 infections.

He also said it should be done by the concerned schools in coordination with the Department of Education (Deped), local government units (LGU), and the Department of Health (DOH).

The said school must also conduct a pilot test of the scheme, which will be overseen by the National Task Force Against Covid-19 to ensure that the necessary minimum health standards will be implemented.

Briones noted these specifications will effectively make the scheme accessible only for some schools.

“This is not for everyone. This will not be forced to all the schools, It will only be available for areas where there is a low health risk like the island provinces with zero level of Covid-19 cases,” Briones stressed.

She said schools, which would like to practice limited face-to-face classes should write to their education regional director, which have jurisdiction in their area, and get the approval of the IATF.

The education chief also assured parents will have the option not allow their children to attend the limited face-to-face classes.

She added that affected children will be given other alternative modes of education under the blended learning approach of Deped, which includes lessons to be delivered through the Internet, television, radio, or printed materials.

Briones also highlighted the importance of human interaction following the approval of President Duterte to allow limited face-toface classes in areas with low risk of coronavirus infection in January next year.

“Ma hal ag aanghu man interaction ... matu to an gm ga bat as a adults, sa mga bata [if there is a personal interaction]. If we can do this despite Covid, on a limited scale, then we will have fulfilled our mandate to help nurture a complete, a full, a whole individual and not a robot,” Briones shared during the “Laging Handa” televised news briefing.

Citing data from the health department on Covid-19 cases, she said that few children have contracted the disease.

Based on the confirmed cases of 67,456 as of July 19, the incidence for the ages 5 to 17 years old, which is the age group for Kindergarten to Grade 12, was 2,832 or 4.20 percent of total confirmed cases.

In terms of deaths, there is 16 recorded deaths for the 5 to 17 years old age group, or 0.87 percent of the total deaths of 1,831 as of July 19.

The Deped chief underscored that limited face-to-face learning will be strictly regulated and that schools must comply with the requirements of four agencies:

1. Location of the schools must be assessed as low risk areas by the IATF;

2. Schools must be harmonious with the state of physical facilities of Deped:

a) The size of the classroom should meet the requirements for social distancing, and

b) Classrooms must be in a standard physical condition;

3. Schools must meet the minimum health standards of the DOH; and

4) Host local government unit must be ready to support financially, as well as in other ways the requirements for limited face-toface learning.

A small number of private schools which have started limited face-toface classes last June will be allowed to continue, however.

Briones also stressed that before any face-to-face classes will be allowed in January next year, there will be pilot testing and inspection to be done jointly with the National Task Force Against Covid-19 to ensure that the required health standards and protocols are working, and possible glitches are addressed.