57 private schools have applied for November 22 pilot face-to-face classes —DepEd

The Department of Education on Wednesday said at least 57 schools so far have applied for the pilot face-to-face classes for private schools, which is set on November 22.

At the Laging Handa public briefing, DepEd Director Malcolm Garma said these schools will undergo evaluation and only 20 schools will be picked for the pilot run.

“[We already have] 57 private schools that have submitted already for evaluation,” he said.

On November 12, the schools that will continue with the pilot run will be identified.

Initially, only 100 public schools were allowed to participate in the pilot run on November 15, but DepEd Secretary Leonor Briones requested that 20 private schools be added.

It was approved by the Department of Health.

UNICEF said the right to learn of 27 million Filipino students has been affected by the continued closure of schools due to the pandemic.

UNICEF Philippines Representative Oyunsaikhan Dendevnorov said the Philippine schools were fully closed for over a year, while schools globally were closed for only around 79 days in 2020. — BM, GMA News