Pilot run of F2F classes to end this month — DepEd

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THE nationwide pilot run of the face-to-face classes will end this month to pave the way for its expanded implementation in 2022, Education Secretary Leonor Briones said yesterday.

Briones, during the “Bayanihan, Bakunahan” activity held at the SM Megamall in Mandaluyong City, said the pilot testing of the in-person classes, which involved 272 schools nationwide, has been “successful.”

Briones said there were no reports that any of the students, teachers and school personnel who participated in the experiment contracted or tested positive of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19).

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The pilot run of the face-to-face classes kicked off on November 15. The National Capital Region (NCR) was the last to participate in the test run, with 28 public elementary and secondary schools participating.

The last day of the pilot run was originally set on January 31, 2022 but Briones said the Department of Education (DepEd) plans to end it by December 31.

It will then make an assessment on whether in-person classes can already be expanded next year to cover more schools in more areas.

An evaluation of the pilot implementation will be done during the month of February, while its expanded run is eyed by March.

Briones said the DepEd wants to include more schools in Metro Manila, Calabarzon (Region IV-A), and other highly urbanized cities where a large chunk of the student population are located.

“By end of December, we will end the pilot testing and really implement the true education policy — blended learning or a combination of digital learning and face to face,” she said.

Briones said it is time that students are allowed to mingle with other school children and their teachers again.

Under the pilot run, face-to-face classes were limited to 12 students for kindergarten, 16 students for grades 1 to 3, 12 students for technical vocational livelihood students in senior high school, and 20 students for senior high school.

Public and private schools were allowed to join the pilot implementation of the in-person classes provided they have the go-signal of their local government units (LGUs) in their areas, that students have the permission of their parents, health protocols are observed, and the schools have contingencies in place and complies with sanitation requirements. — With Noel Talacay

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