Duterte approves dry run of face-to-face classes in January 2021

President Rodrigo Duterte on Monday approved the Department of Education’s proposal to conduct face-to-face classes in areas with low COVID-19 risk in January 2021, his spokesperson Harry Roque said.

In a statement, Roque said the pilot would take place in select areas and that the attendance to attend face-to-face classes would be voluntary.

“The Palace informs that President Rodrigo Roa Duterte and the Cabinet approved during tonight’s Cabinet meeting, December 14, 2020, the presentation 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 for the whole month of January 2021.”

Parents’ approval is also needed for a student to participate in a class, he added.

Roque, however, did not mention when the dry run would start exactly.

He said the DepEd would coordinate with the COVID-19 National Task Force for the monitoring of the pilot face-to-face classes.

The pilot will be done under strict health and safety measures, and “where there is commitment for shared responsibility” among DepEd, local government units and parents, Roque said.

Remote classes started on October 5, several weeks later than the initially planned on August 24, to give teachers and students more time to prepare for online and modular distance learning.

Lessons this school year may be given via online classes, or via use of printed modules, or use of TV and radio due to the COVID-19 pandemic. -NB, GMA News