Proposed face-to-face classes pilot run will have kinder–Grade 3 students —DepEd

The pilot run for face-to-face classes will focus on students in the Kindergarten to Grade 3 levels, an official of the Department of Education (DepEd) said on Monday.

At the Laging Handa public briefing, DepEd Undersecretary Nepomuceno Malaluan said schools will not be in full operation during the pilot test.

“Dahil sa rekomendasyon ng DOH at medical experts na ating kinonsulta ay mag-focus lamang po tayo doon sa first key stage, 'yung kindergarten,” he said.

[Because of the recommendation of the Department of Health and medical expert that we consulted, we will focus on the first key stage, which is the Kindergarten to Grade 3.]

According to him, only around 12 students in Kindergarten and not more than 16 in Grade 1 to 3 will be allowed to participate in the face-to-face classes.

The period of the class will only last for three hours, Malaluan said.

“[The] activities in school are mainly reinforcing activities to what will still be predominantly distance learning,” he added.

He noted that extreme caution and maximum preventive measures will be in place.

At least 120 public and private schools are targeted to participate in the conduct of the pilot test, which is still subject to the approval of President Rodrigo Duterte.

According to the DepEd, a total of 17.9 million or 68.5% of students have enrolled so far for the coming School Year 2021-2022, which is set to start on September 13. — BM, GMA News