THE Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF) has approved the “phased” and limited face-to-face classes for all programs in the collegiate level in areas under Alert Levels 1, 2, and 3 starting next month, Cabinet Secretary and acting presidential spokesman Karlo Nograles said yesterday.
Nograles said the IATF, under IATF Resolution 148-G dated November 16, adopted the recommendations and resolution issued by the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) on the resumption of face-to-face classes in a limited capacity.
Under the IATF Resolution, Phase 1 of the implementation will start in December and cover all higher educational institutions (HEIs) in areas under Alert Level 2, while Phase 2 will start in January 2022 and cover all HEIs in areas under Alert Level 3.
Last Monday, the Education department rolled out the pilot implementation of limited face-to-face classes in 11 regions in the country, with 97 public schools participating. At least 20 private schools are set to conduct limited in-person classes starting November 22.
Nograles said the implementation of the limited face-to-face classes is subject to certain conditions and based on the “Guidelines on the Nationwide Implementation of Alert Levels System for COVID-19 Response” that includes observing a 50 percent indoor venue capacity, be no opposition from the local government unit concerned, and participation limited to fully vaccinated teaching and non-teaching personnel and students.
He said schools will only be allowed to resume limited face-to-face classes if they are able to comply with health and safety protocols, retrofit their facilities, and get the support of their stakeholders.
“The IATF would like to reiterate that the phased implementation of limited face-to-face classes in HEIs should be done alongside the continued implementation of proactive measures and restrictions that have been put in place to prevent the spread of COVID-19, and have contributed to the steady decline in COVID-19 cases in the country. These include the vaccination of all eligible individuals, the wearing of masks, social distancing, and hand-washing,” he said.
“As we slowly and cautiously open our college classrooms, we urge all stakeholders involved to work together to ensure the safety of our students so that they may be able to return to their schools secure in the knowledge that every effort has been made to safeguard their health,” he added.
President Duterte recently approved the nationwide “phased” implementation of the COVID-19 alert level system (ALS) currently being observed in the National Capital Region (NCR), Central Luzon (Region III), Calabarzon (Region IV-A), Western Visayas (Region VI), Central Visayas (Region VII), Northern Mindanao (Region X), and Davao Region (Region XI) under phase 1.
Under phase two, which is set to be implemented this November, regions covered will include Ilocos (Region I), Eastern Visayas (Region VII), and Soccsksargen (Region XII); while phase three expands the ALS to Cagayan Valley (Region II), Bicol (Region V), and Zamboanga Peninsula (Region IX) one week after phase two is implemented; and phase four expands ALS to the Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR), Mimaropa (Region IV-B), Caraga, and the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) to complete the nationwide full implementation of the ALS.
Duterte said the “nationwide shift to the Alert Level System would allow for the reinvigoration of the economy through the opening of more sectors, while protecting the people’s health through the continuous observance of public health protocols and interventions and the heightened implementation of lockdowns in smaller areas, also known as granular lockdowns.”
Meanwhile, Catholic schools in Metro Manila have been directed to start preparations for the eventual return of physical learning.
In a statement, the Catholic Educational Association of the Philippines (CEAP) – NCR said Catholic school administrators should closely monitor the pilot implementation of F2F classes in several schools to gain insights on how to resume in-person classes amid the pandemic.
“We are encouraging the heads of private Catholic schools to monitor this pilot program and check which practices of the DepEd apply to us,” said CEAP NCR Trustee Fr. Nolan Que.
“We call on the heads of Catholic schools to begin planning this transition as soon as possible.
“We cannot hide forever. This endeavor is a calculated risk that all schools in the country must take to begin the transition from distance learning to limited face-to-face learning,” said Que.
He said Catholic schools should coordinate with their local government units in monitoring the implementation of health protocols in areas around the schools with limited face-to-face sessions.
He also urged school administrators to begin communicating with the parents and guardians of their students.
But Que stressed the preference for virtual learning must not be disregarded despite the resumption of face-to-face classes.
“We cannot leave behind our pupils and students, who prefer the remote learning modality.
We call on our instructional leaders to ensure that provisions for the blended learning approach are in place to accommodate families, who prefer online distance learning,” said Que. — With Gerard Naval
