The Senate Committee on Basic Education, Arts and Culture will hold an inquiry on the preparations for the pilot testing of limited face-to-face classes, Senator Win Gatchalian said.
- While Gatchalian strongly supports the pilot run of limited in-person learning, he pressed the need to assure the public that all steps are taken to ensure the safety of learners, teachers, and other school personnel. The lawmaker added the need to assess how the vaccination of minors beginning in October will complement the gradual reopening of schools;
- Schools participating in limited face-to-face classes should be located in minimal-risk areas based on the criteria set by the DOH;
- Support from local government units is also needed to allow school participation in the dry run;
- Schools also need to secure expressed support from parents.
The Department of Education (DepEd) and the Department of Health (DOH) have recently signed the joint circular on the pilot test of limited in-person learning. The two agencies eye 120 schools—100 public schools and 20 private private schools—to participate in the dry run of face-to-face classes, which will be closely monitored for two months.
While Gatchalian strongly supports the pilot run of limited in-person learning, he pressed the need to assure the public that all steps are taken to ensure the safety of learners, teachers, and other school personnel. The lawmaker added the need to assess how the vaccination of minors beginning in October will complement the gradual reopening of schools.
“Ang unti-unti nating pagbabalik sa face-to-face classes ay isang mahalagang hakbang upang makabalik sa normal ang ating sektor ng edukasyon. Ngunit ang pinakamahalagang dapat nating matiyak ay kung paano mapapanatiling ligtas ang ating mga guro at mag-aaral kapag nagsimula na ang pilot testing,” said Gatchalian.
“Nais nating gawing maliwanag ang lahat ng hakbang na ginagawa ng ating pamahalaan, kabilang ang pagpapabakuna ng mga guro at mga kabataan, lalo na’t magsisimula na ang pagbabakuna ng general population sa Oktubre,” he added.
Schools participating in limited face-to-face classes should be located in minimal-risk areas based on the criteria set by the DOH. They should also pass the school safety assessment by DepEd, DOH, the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF), and other organizations dedicated to improving child health care.
Support from local government units is also needed to allow school participation in the dry run. This can be expressed through a letter of support or a resolution. Schools also need to secure expressed support from parents.
The joint guidelines also provide that a maximum of 12 learners will be allowed in Kindergarten, 16 learners for Grades 1 to 3, 20 learners for Grades 4-12, and 12 learners for technical-vocational livelihood (TVL) workshop and science laboratory.
