DepEd: Over 10K schools allowed to hold limited in-person classes

The Department of Education said a total of 10,196 public (9,994) and private (212) schools have been allowed to conduct limited in-person classes as more areas in the country are placed under the loosest Alert Level 1.

As of March 22, 2022, a total of 14,396 more public and private schools in the country are considered “nominated” or those that have passed the School Safety Assessment Tool (SSAT).

These schools, however, still need the concurrence of local government units, which is considered a critical factor before the department green lights their reopening.

DepEd said it is set to release a revised version of its SSAT to help more schools meet the required standards for the resumption of in-person classes.

At a virtual press briefing Wednesday, DepEd Assistant Secretary Malcom Garma said the department has “streamlined” the guidelines for the safe reopening of educational institutions based on its assessment from the pilot implementation of face-to-face classes.

“We have streamlined already the requirements na nakita natin sa Version 1 because what we learned from the pilot school implementation is madami don ay nahihirapan.. maraming schools ang nahihirapan to comply wit the SSAT kasi either madami sya or yung iba hindi praktikal,” Garma told reporters.

“In the Version 2 which hopefully will come up within the week or latest by next week, medyo pinadali na natin, “ he said

With the easing of requirements, the DepEd hopes more schools will qualify to become “nominated schools” and start holding physical classes.

Garma also clarified establishments that already complied with the initial guidelines need not fulfill the revised SSAT.

Public schools in the Philippines began the implementation of limited physical classes in 2021.—Sundy Mae Locus/LDF, GMA News