The Department of Education (DepEd) has encouraged all private and public schools in the Philippines to conduct face-to-face classes by June amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
In a press briefing on Monday, Education Secretary Leonor Briones said around 73 percent of public schools have already resumed face-to-face classes.
"Right now, ang sinasabi ko 73.28 percent na ng public schools at saka meron ding tayong mga private schools na inu-urge natin, ine-encourage natin na bumalik na sila sa face-to-face,” Briones said.
[Right now, what I’m saying is 73.28 percent of public schools and there are also private schools that we urge and encourage to return to face-to-face.]
“By June, which is already a few days away from now, sa next academic school year, ine-expect natin na fully 100 percent na ang pag-implement ng face-to-face,” she added.
[By June, which is already a few days away from now, sa next academic school year, we expect that we will implement the face-to-face fully at 100 percent.]
Blended learning
In the same briefing, Education Undersecretary Diosdado San Antonio said the DepEd is eyeing a blended setup wherein there are days when students will physically be present in school and some days when students will be allowed to learn at home.
“Tinitignan namin na blended na may face-to-face class na mga araw at may araw na papayagan na nasa bahay pa rin natututo ang mga bata,” he said.
[We are looking at blended learning where there are days for face-to-face classes and days for learning at home.]
San Antonio noted that the DepEd will push for this setup once the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases allows a number of days in a week for face-to-face classes.
