DepEd to discuss reducing 1,065 schools identified for face-to-face class pilot test —exec

The Department of Health will consider a proposal to reduce the number of schools participating in the pilot test for face-to-face classes from 1,065 to 500 or lower, Undersecretary Nepomuceno Malaluan said on Wednesday.

Malaluan made the commitment follow a suggestion from Sen. Francis Pangilinan to reduce the number of the identified schools for the pilot test of face-to-face classes.

"Baka naman papayag ang IATF kung 500 lang o 300 lang o 200, ang importante napa-pilot at nakikita ‘yung mga gaps,” Pangalinan said during a Senate hearing of the Committee on Basic Education, Arts and Culture on Wednesday.

In response, the DepEd official said: “It can be discussed... the possibility really to reduce the pilot coverage.”

“Perhaps, the matter of 500 versus 1,065 might be really a big difference as from the perspective of outside the department,” Malaluan added.

He said they will deliberate on the matter in their meeting with its executive committee on Wednesday.

Malaluan said they had initially identified 1,065 schools for the pilot test of face-to-face classes in December.

On Monday, presidential spokesperson Harry Roque Jr. said President Rodrigo Duterte has ruled out face-to-face classes until August. -MDM, GMA News