November 12, 2021 – Anchored on the shared responsibility framework, the Department of Education (DepEd) emphasized the assistance and pledge of external partners to ensure the safe implementation of the limited face-to-face classes that will start on November 15.

DepEd – Planning Service Director Roger B. Masapol, during the EduAksyon virtual presser on October 19, expressed the agency’s appreciation to the partners who vowed their initial assistance before the roll-out of the pilot implementation.

“Nagpapasalamat po ang Kagawaran sa mga pledge at sa mga commitment ng ating partners. May mga early commitment na po tayong nakuha… para maging maayos ang pag-implement natin ng ating face-to-face [classes],” Director Masapol said.

United States Agency for International Development, GIZ fit for school, United Nations Children’s Fund, Sustaining Education Reform Gains project (Australian Embassy), United Laboratories, Inc. (UNILAB), Save the Children, Aboitez, Procter and Gamble, PBED, Aral Pilipinas, UP NISMED, UPOU, Unang Hakbang Foundation Inc,  World Bank and World Vision,  have signified their support to the Department for a safer reintroduction of face-to-face classes, Director Masapol reported.

Through the Field Operations strand, the Department on November 03 officially released the 100 public schools that will participate in the pilot implementation of face-to-face classes from different provinces and regions nationwide.

Assistant Secretary for National Academy of Sports and Field Operations Malcolm Garma stated that the Department, along with the Department of Health, is currently evaluating the application of 57 private schools for the said implementation.

Sa ngayon, hindi pa po final iyong desisyon kung sino-sino iyong 20 na pribadong paaralan na maglalahok sa ating face-to-face… Sa Nov. 12 natin malalaman kung sino iyong 20 private schools na mapipili, he said.

Education Secretary Leonor Magtolis Briones also assured the general public that the agency would continuously update the stakeholders on developing the pilot implementation of face-to-face classes as it will set insights for the eventual expansion of face-to-face classes moving forward.

“DepEd will implement face-to-face [classes] with safety measures in place. We have been instructed to implement face-to-face whether it is 70 [schools] or 30 or 100, or eventually the entire school system, we will implement face-to-face. We will be reporting updates regularly to the President and the general public,” Secretary Briones said.

The Department also ensured coordination with the National Task Force for COVID-19 to fast-track the vaccination of the personnel nationwide.

Furthermore, DepEd is also encouraging all public schools nationwide to start conducting self-assessment using the School Safety Assessment Tool in preparation for the expansion phase of the face-to-face classes.

 

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