THE Department of Education (DepEd) and Department of Health (DOH) are discussing possible changes in existing guidelines for the resumption or expansion of face-to-face classes in areas under Alert Level 1, Education Secretary Leonor Briones said Monday night.
Briones, during the Talk to the People address of President Duterte, said only 1,726 of the 6,213 schools allowed to conduct in-person classes are currently holding face-to-face classes but expects the number to increase after Metro Manila and 38 other cities and provinces were placed Alert Level 1.
She also said they want to reduce the number of protocols that should be observed to entice more schools to implement in-person classes.
“What we want, Mr. President, now that we are under Alert Level 1, is to expand the face-to-face (classes) and, if allowed, reduce the protocols because we have two pages of protocols that should be followed by schools. So maybe we can reduce that,” she said.
Planning Secretary and National Economic and Development Authority Director General Karl Chua and Health Undersecretary Ma. Rosario Vergeire said their agencies support the continuing expansion of face-to-face classes in areas under Alert level 1.
Chua, in a briefing with Cabinet Secretary Karlo Nograles, said face-to-face classes contribute to the country’s full economic recovery. He said about 40 percent of the population are school age children, who indirectly contribute to the country’s economy.
Chua said that once face-to-face learning resumes, economic activities, which generate around P12 billion per week, will return such as the operation of transport services, dormitories, food stalls and school supplies stores, among others.
He said resuming face-to-face learning is also expected to free up the time of about one-fourth of the parent population. who skipped work or reduced their work time to accompany their children during online classes.
