February 4, 2022
MANILA – The Department of Education (DepEd) has given the go signal for the implementation of a “progressive expansion” of in-person classes in more schools under alert level 2 areas.
DepEd regional directors submitted a total of 6,686 schools nationwide that passed the school’s safety assessment tool (SSAT), which the agency uses to determine the readiness of every education institution for in-person classes. Of this number, 6,586 are public schools and 100 are private schools.
“This list will progressively increase as the rest of the schools are able to address their respective SSAT gaps,” DepEd said.
186 more schoolsFollowing the Jan. 29 resolution of the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases, 304 public schools in areas under alert level 2 all over the country could start implementing in-person classes.
By Feb. 9, the original 28 pilot schools in Metro Manila could resume in-person classes while the other schools included in the progressive expansion could start their classes on the same day.
There are 12 schools in Batanes that will participate in the agency’s program while there are 106 in Bulacan, 33 in Cavite, 21 in Rizal, five in Biliran, and nine in Southern Leyte.
DepEd guidelines
Under the DepEd’s interim guidelines for the expansion phase, schools are allowed to include other grade levels in the in-person classes, depending on their capacity.
Initially, only kindergarten to Grade 3 learners and select senior high school students from the technical and vocational areas were allowed to take part in the program.
The same requirements such as concurrence with the local government and parents’ consent must be secured by the schools.
Only vaccinated teachers and school personnel are allowed to participate in the conduct of classes. The DepEd said vaccinated students are also preferred.