DepEd mulls face-to-face classes in NCR, Calabarzon

The Department of Education (DepEd)  is considering conducting face-to-face classes in Metro Manila and CALABARZON, which are under Alert Level 2, amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

According to Mariz Umali's report on "24 Oras" on Tuesday, Education Secretary Leonor Briones is hopeful that face-to-face classes can be conducted in urban areas by January next year.

"Gusto nating makita hindi ka lang kung nagwo-work itong pilot natin and schools with small enrollments or maliit na record of COVID-19 but also in urban areas," she said.

[We want to see whether the pilot (face-to-face classes) will work and schools with small enrollments or low number of recorded COVID-19 cases but also in urban areas.]

"We have very high hopes, depende rin sa behavior ni COVID-19," she added.

[We have high hopes, this will also depend on the behavior of COVID-19.]

Briones said President Rodrigo Duterte and the Department of Health already gave them authority to decide whether they will expand face-to-face classes in other areas.

The Coordinating Council of Private Educational Associations (COCOPEA) said face-to-face classes should be conducted in the capital region soon.

"Ang tinitingnan natin talaga 'yong vaccination rate, hindi 'yong risk whether it's low or high... Para maging confident 'yong parents to allow their kids to go to school in person," COCOPEA managing director Atty. Joseph Noel Estrada said.

[What we are looking at is the vaccination rate and not whether it is low or high risk. So that the parents can be confident to allow their kids to go to school in person.]

Pilot testing of face-to-face classes started Monday in several areas in the country amid the pandemic.

A total of 100 public schools are participating in the pilot run that is subject to strict health protocols. -- Ma. Angelica Garcia/BAP, GMA News