Still blended, still learning

by Manila Bulletin

Over two years into a pandemic later, the Department of Education (DepEd) remains half-and-half with its attitude toward face-to-face classes. But perhaps it is right to do so. The Department’s latest pronouncements regarding the upcoming school year favors a mix of in-person and online classes.

If you are a parent who has been following the discussions regarding the resumption of classes, you might say, “Nothing new here.” And you would be right in saying so.

For the past several months now, with the easing of mobility restrictions due to the pandemic under an Alert Level 1 status, everything seems to be back to normal. Almost.

Kids are allowed back into public spaces—churches, malls, restaurants — accompanied by their families. Kids have been given access to vaccines against Covid. But why are they still not allowed to be back in their classrooms at a 100-percent level?

Some might argue that there are a lot of factors involved in a classroom setup different from those in other public spaces, say, like in malls or parks or restaurants. In schools, students would be mingling with fellow learners as well as educators. The thing is, with DepEd’s push for fully inoculating its personnel and teachers — both for public and private schools — and with vaccines available for children, the classroom setup seems to be becoming more and more viable as an option.

DepEd recognizes this with its suggestion that students spend some days back in school and other days of the week learning from home. It seems to be the safest bet. Although the department is not against face-to-face classes, it wants to exercise a degree of prudence.

The question is: What difference does it make for the students to be allowed out on some days compared to being allowed back in school for a week? Less chances of getting Covid? Maybe.

This is the reason why DepEd continues to push for the vaccination of younger learners, which to be clear, is completely optional. That being vaccinated is not even made a requirement for children to return to the classroom says a lot. Yet, putting all arguments in favor of vaccination aside, this may be the more probable reason why a blended learning setup is favored.

DepEd itself, together with the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-MEID), seems to be learning the ropes when it comes to reintegrating students back into a “new normal” for education. While this is understandable given the unpredictable nature of a pandemic, the current situation points to a more stable future, with Covid cases remaining in manageable numbers compared to those of the past two years.

Perhaps parents — and the learners themselves who are arguably in need of social interaction from their peers — only need to be patient for a little while longer, until the “new normal” in education takes on the semblance of a true normal.

DepEd eyes expansion of face-to-face classes in February for vaxxed personnel, students

by Merlina Hernando-Malipot, Manila Bulletin

The expansion phase of limited face-to-face classes eyed to start in the first week of February will only include vaccinated participants, the Department of Education (DepEd) said.

During President Duterte’s Talk to the People aired on Monday, Jan. 17, Education Secretary Leonor Briones gave updates on the pilot run of limited face-to-face classes and its possible expansion by next month.

Briones reported to the President that the pilot run of face-to-face classes held from Nov. 15 to Dec. 22 had been “highly successful” given the “high level of attendance” among students.

A total of 287 schools and 15,000 learners participated in the pilot run. Briones said that there were “no confirmed” coronavirus disease (COVID-19) cases among the participants during the pilot implementation.

Given the positive outcome of the pilot run, Briones said that the DepEd is recommending the “progressive expansion” of face-to-face classes in areas under Alert Levels 1 and 2.

“Expansion will commence not earlier than the first week of February,” Briones said.

During the expansion phase, the DepEd is recommending that only vaccinated teachers and non-teaching personnel be allowed to participate.

Briones added that the “participation of vaccinated students shall be preferred.”

She noted that the framework of shared responsibility that includes the concurrence of local government units (LGUs) and parents’ consent “will remain a requirement.”

However, Briones clarified that those schools under Alert Level 3 areas — such as the National Capital Region (NCR) and Region IV-A — will not be included in the expansion phase due to the surge in COVID-19 cases in these places.

IATF green-lights limited face-to-face classes in colleges, universities under ALS

by Ellson Quismorio, Manila Bulletin

The Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF) has approved resolution no. 148-G, which adopts the Commission on Higher Education’s (CHED) proposed phased implementation of limited face-to-face classes for all programs under the Alert Levels System (ALS) for coronavirus disease (COVID-19) response.

This was announced in a statement by Cabinet Secretary Karlo Nograles on Wednesday, Nov. 17, saying that the approval was handed down by IATF the previous day.

“Based under the guidelines on the nationwide implementation of [ALS] for COVID-19 response, limited face-to-face classes are now allowed under alert levels 1, 2 and 3, subject to certain conditions, such as (1) 50 percent indoor venue capacity, (2) no opposition from the local government unit (LGU) concerned, and (3) participation of fully vaccinated teaching and non-teaching personnel and students only,” the statement read.

“Under the said proposal, the CHED is mandated to execute the phased implementation program to ensure the safe reopening of higher education campuses,” Nograles, who was recently named acting presidential spokesperson, also stated.

The phase 1 implementation period shall be from December 2021 onwards. During this phase, all higher education institutions (HEIs) in areas under alert level 2 may apply for limited face-to-face classes, Nograles said.

Meanwhile, the phase 2 implementation period shall be from January 2022 onwards. In this phase, all HEIs in areas under alert level 3 may apply for limited face-to-face classes.

The phased implementation of face-to-face classes in HEIs shall be done consistent with Joint Memorandum Circular No. 2021-001, or the guidelines on the gradual reopening of campuses of higher education institutions (HEIs) for limited face-to-face classes during the COVID-19 pandemic, issued by CHED and the Department of Health (DOH).

This circular serves as a guide for HEIs that intend to hold limited face-to-face classes and are willing to assume the responsibilities for the reopening of their campuses based on the following: (1) their capability to comply with health and safety protocols, (2) to retrofit their facilities, and (3) to get the support of their stakeholders.

“The IATF would like to reiterate that the phased implementation of limited face-to-face classes in HEIs should be done alongside the continued implementation of proactive measures and restrictions that have been put in place to prevent the spread of COVID-19, and have contributed to the steady decline in COVID-19 cases in the country. These include the vaccination of all eligible individuals, the wearing of masks, social distancing, and hand-washing,” Nograles said.

“As we slowly and cautiously open our college classrooms, we urge all stakeholders involved to work together to ensure the safety of our students so that they may be able to return to their schools secure in the knowledge that every effort has been made to safeguard their health,” the Cabinet Secretary added.