TEACHERS and students will still have to wear face masks inside the classroom for now, the Department of Education yesterday said amid the national government’s relaxed implementation of the masking policy outdoors and in non-crowded spaces.
President Marcos Jr. has issued Executive Order No.3 which makes optional the wearing of face masks in open spaces and non-crowded outdoor areas with good ventilation.
DepEd spokesperson Michael Tan Poa classes are held in classrooms, which are enclosed spaces, thereby necessitating the wearing of face masks as part of health protocols.
“Yung mga learners po natin usually they spend their time doon sa mga enclosed spaces, ‘yung ating mga classrooms, where mandatory pa ‘yung pagsusuot ng mga face masks (Our learners usually spend their time in enclosed spaces, in their classrooms, where the wearing of face masks is mandatory),” Poa said in a press briefing Thursday.
However, Poa said the DepEd is mindful of EO3 and will consult with the Department of Health on how best to move forward on the issue to ensure the safety and health of students and teachers.
“We will coordinate and consult with the DOH kasi most of the time nasa open space po ang ating mga learners,” he said.
Poa said the DepEd will release a guideline on the wearing of face masks after consultation with the DOH and other education stakeholders.
He added that inputs from such coordination will be included in the soon-to-be-released guideline.
Earlier, Poa said the DepEd will wait for a directive from Malacañang on whether students and teachers can do away with the wearing of face masks while in school.
The department had directed the mandatory wearing of face masks in schools by students, teachers and non-teaching staff as part of the health protocols to prevent the spread of the COVID-19 virus.
With the strict implementation of health protocols, Poa said no student, teacher or non-teaching staff has contracted the COVID-19 virus since the opening of classes last month.
