Negros Oriental Eyed for Face-to-Face Classes

The Department of Education (DepEd) Secretary Leonor Briones has announced the consideration of including Negros Oriental in the pilot testing of face-to-face classes amidst the pandemic. These face-to-face classes or physical classes are yet to be confirmed in the future. According to the DepEd Secretary, the program was supposed to start this January. However, with the emergence of a new Covid-19 variant, President Rodrigo Duterte recalled his approval to hold pilot testing.

Face-to-Face Classes in Negros Oriental

Briones spoke to the Department of Education officials and the media in a virtual presser via Zoom on updates regarding blended learning and other concerns in the education sector amid the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) pandemic. Some 118 schools in the province would have been considered for the pilot testing, which is now suspended, but the local government unit of La Libertad has intimated its desire to participate in the pilot testing

If they can comply with requirements, we will consider them, however, there are some requirements that must be met,” she said.

The considerations would include the approval of the LGU, certain requirements from the Department of Health, written parents’ consent for their children who will be attending face-to-face classes, transportation, and canteens that provide food for the students, Briones said. The DepEd chief, who hails from Guihulngan, Negros Oriental, said they need to minimize the risk of students contracting Covid-19, noting that only very few children were infected with the novel coronavirus because of the agency’s policies. The parents must be aware of the implications of this program if they would allow their children to attend the face-to-face classes, she said.

In the meantime, the President has not yet reconsidered the holding of pilot testing for face-to-face classes due to the threat of the new Covid-19 variants, she added.

But for sure, once the program will be implemented, we will consider Negros Oriental because it is very active in education,” Briones said.