Face-to-face classes to be voluntary if they are approved, DepEd reiterates

Face-to-face classes will be on a voluntary basis should their resumption be approved by officials, the Department of Education (DepEd) reiterated, echoing calls of other stakeholders as the country seeks to enter a new normal.

According to DepEd Undersecretary Diosdado San Antonio, the resumption of face-to-face classes will be piloted in low-risk areas and will require agreements between the academic institutions, parents of the students, and guidelines set by the local government unit (LGU).

"Kung ang pakiramdam niya ay ano pa, mayroon pang risk, mapanganib ang paglabas ng bahay ng mga anak, ipagpapatuloy po kung ano man 'yung distance learning delivery modality na ginagawa," he was record as saying in a report on GMA's "24 Oras Weekend" on Sunday.

"Hindi ulit one size fits all ang ibibigay natin. Ang magde-decide kung how frequent, ilan 'yung nandoon, basya hindi sosobra doon sa sasabihin namin," he added.

For its part, the Teachers' Dignity Coalition said DepEd should ensure that proper health protocols are in place, and mechanisms should be put in place to ensure who would be made liable in case a contagion happens.

"Sana kung gusto nating gawin ito, isabay natin 'yung pagtitiyak sa kaligtasan ng mga bata at kaligtasan din ng mga guro na kung sakaling may mangyayari na hindi inaasahan eh sino ang mananagot?" Emmalyn Policarpio, secretary general of the group, said in the same report.

President Rodrigo Duterte in December approved the dry run in January 2021, but this was later recalled amid a new variant of COVID-19 reported. — Jon Viktor D. Cabuenas/BM, GMA News