DepEd, DOH to finalize list of participating schools in face-to-face dry run Wednesday

The list of 100 public schools that will participate in the dry run of limited face-to-face classes will be finalized this week, a Department of Education (DepEd) official said Tuesday.

Interviewed on Unang Balita, DepEd Undersecretary Nepomuceno Malaluan said the DepEd's technical team will meet with their counterparts in the Department of Health (DOH) on Wednesday to finalize the list.

"Sa Wednesday ay humingi kami ng pagpupulong para isapinal yung schools na from 638 schools natin na inihanda ay alin talaga yung mapipiling 100," Malaluan said.

(We're asking for a meeting on Wednesday to finalize the list of 100 schools from the 638 initially considered for the dry run.)

Aside from the 100 public schools, 20 private schools will also be tapped for the pilot testing of limited face-to-face classes.

The DepEd earlier said schools that will participate in the two-month dry run -- the conduct of which was approved by President Rodrigo Duterte on Monday

Malaluan said DepEd Secretary Leonor Briones is set to sign on Tuesday the guidelines for the limited face-to-face classes.

Once signed by Briones, the guidelines will be brought to the DOH for Health Secretary Francisco Duque III's signature.

"Nakasaad dito in details ang lahat ng safety protocols, contingency measures, class schedules na mangyayari," Malaluan said.

(The guidelines include, in details, the safety protocols, contingency measures and the class schedules.)

Malaluan said success of the dry run will not be determined by the absence of COVID-19 cases among the participating students and teachers but by how the contingency measures would be applied.

"Magiging sukatan dito ay tama ba yung ating contingency ay managed in an orderly manner," he said. "Kasama sa contingency ang lockdown ng paaralan kung kinakailangan."

(How the contingency measures, including the lockdown of a school if necessary, were implemented will be the basis of the assessment of the dry run.) --KBK, GMA News