F2F classes not mandatory in Davao Region next school year
Public and private schools in Davao Region will not be forced to conduct full implementation of face-to-face classes starting next school year as the threat of COVID-19 remains, Jenielito Atillo, spokesperson of the Department of Education (DepEd) regional office said on Monday.
Atillo said the statement of outgoing DepEd Secretary Leonor Briones about the 100-percent resumption of face-to-face classes only meant to encourage schools to reopen fully.
He said physical classes will be subject to concurrence of the local government units, consent of the parents, readiness of the schools, and implementation of the minimum public health standards.
He said the department has yet to announce the opening of classes for the school year 2022 to 2023.
“While DepEd really wants to go back to face-to-face, we are beholden to the fact that we have to comply with existing regulations of the IATF. The reality is that COVID-19 remains. We should not lower our guard just because we are vaccinated or we may have forgotten about it,” he said.
He said guidelines provided by the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases only allow schools in areas under Alert Levels 1 and 2 status to hold face-to-face classes.
“Those who have started already can go full-blown. If the situation remains okay, students can be allowed to go to schools, subject again to existing policies like, for example, in one classroom there is a maximum number allowed of learners,” he added.
He said the parents are not forced to have their children participate face-to-face classes in schools.
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