DepEd to implement face-to-face classes dry run starting Jan. 11

DepEd to implement face-to-face classes dry run starting January 11

The Department of Education (DepEd) will start the implementation of pilot activities or dry run of face-to-face classes (F2F) to selected schools on January 11, 2021.

DepEd will select the pilot schools from among the nominated schools in areas with low risk of coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) to be included in the pilot implementation or dry run of face-to-face classes (F2F) by December 28 , Malacañang said Tuesday.

President Rodrigo Roa Duterte during the 49th Cabinet meeting, December 14, 2020, approved the the conduct of pilot implementation or dry run of F2F classes in select schools within areas with low COVID-risk for the whole month of January 2021 as proposed by the Department of Education (DepEd).

Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque said Duterte approved the pilot implementation knowing that the current blended and distance learning scheme is “far from ideal” especially in areas with little or no access to computers and the internet.

“Kasi alam natin na talagang itong ginagawa nating blended learning is far from ideal at ang ideal pa rin talaga is face-to-face so we’re trying to see if we can live with the virus at malalaman po natin kung pupuwede nga lalo na dun sa mga areas na wala namang Covid na (Because we know the current blended learning scheme is far from ideal and the most ideal is face-to-face so we’re trying to see if we can live with the virus and we will find out if it can be done especially in areas with no Covid-19),” said Roque said during the Palace press briefing.

Here is the timeline for the dry run of F2F classes according to Roque:

• Dec. 14-18, 2020 - Submission by regional directors to the Secretary, through the Undersecretary for Field Operations, of nominated schools for pilot implementation or dry-run.
• Dec. 28, 2020 - Selection by the Secretary of pilot schools from among the nominated schools.
• Jan. 4-8, 2021 - Orientation, mobilization, and readiness confirmation of selected pilot schools.
• Jan. 11-23, 2021 - Implementation of pilot activities, including joint monitoring by DepEd and the Covid-19 National Task Force.
• Jan. 25-29, 2021 - Submission of regional reports on the pilot implementation; evaluation for the final recommendation to the President.

Roque clarified that the planned face-to-face classes in schools would “not be compulsory, but rather voluntary” on the part of the learner and parents.

“Having said this, a parent’s permit needs to be submitted for the student to participate in face-to-face classes,” according to Roque.

“Pilot lang po ito, ito’y isang buwan lamang. Wala po’ng pilitan, boluntaryo po ito. Kinakailangan mayroong approval ng mga magulang at bukod po dito, dapat papayag din po ang LGU," he said.

"Kung ayaw ng LGU, hindi po natin ipipilit itong pilot face-to-face (This is only a pilot test and it will only run for one month. Nobody will be forced, this is voluntary" added Roque.

"There should be approval from parents and besides this, the local government unit should also approve. If the LGU rejects it, we won’t force face-to-face classes),” Roque clarified.