As it continues to implement the progressive expansion of in-person classes, the Department of Education (DepEd) said that more than 80 percent of public schools nationwide have been deemed ready for the resumption of face-to-face classes this incoming school year.
“Over 80 percent of public schools are compliant with the readiness requirements for face-to-face classes including hand washing facilities proper ventilation,” DepEd Undersecretary Nepomuceno Malaluan said in a mix of English and Filipino during the Laging Handa public briefing on Monday, June 20.
Malaluan said that the school break can be used to ensure that schools are 100 percent ready before the start of School Year (SY) 2022-2023.
“Tinatanya natin na dapat lahat ng paaralan ay may kahandaan na magbukas pero nakabatay pa rin yan sa Covid-19 alert levels at that time (We’re estimating that all schools should be ready to open but that is still based on the Covid-19 alert levels at that time),” Malaluan said.
Based on the latest guidelines of the Department of Health (DOH), Malaluan said that schools may be allowed to “relax” physical distancing protocols in areas under Alert Level 1 this incoming school year.
This, Malaluan said, will be among the notable changes in the implementation of face-to-face classes in SY 2022-2023.
While DepEd hopes to increase the number of learners who will be allowed to attend face-to-face classes in the next school year, Malaluan said that will still depend on the overall health situation nationwide.
Earlier, DepEd said that it is eyeing the opening of SY 2022-2023 in August. Asked what learning modality will be used this incoming school year, Malauan said innovations from distance learning may still be used.
“There are very important learning gains that we have seen from the introduction of various remote learning delivery,” Malaluan said.
Currently, DepEd is also crafting overall guidelines for SY 2022-2023 which will include what learning delivery modalities will be used, among others.