President Rodrigo Duterte has approved the recommendation of the Department of Education (DepEd) to conduct pilot implementation or dry run of face-to-face classes in select schools within areas with low COVID-risk.
Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque said the President approved DepEd’s presentation during tonight’s Cabinet meeting.
The dry run is set for the whole month of January 2021.
“The DepEd shall coordinate with the COVID-19 National Task Force (NTF) for the monitoring of the conduct of the pilot implementation. The pilot shall be done under strict health and safety measures, and where there is commitment for shared responsibility among DepEd, local government units and parents,” said Roque.
“We need to emphasize that face-to-face classes in schools where this may be allowed will not be compulsory, but rather voluntary on the part of the learner / parents. Having said this, a parent’s permit needs to be submitted for the student to participate in face-to-face classes,” he added.