President Rodrigo Roa Duterte shares a light moment with Education Secretary Leonor Briones and Philippine Sports Commission Chairman William Ramirez on the sidelines of the 2019 Palarong Pambansa opening ceremony at the Davao City-UP Sports Complex on April 28, 2019. TOTO LOZANO/PRESIDENTIAL PHOTO
Malacañang on Tuesday said the government-monitored dry run for face-to-face classes in areas at low risk of Covid-19 would be held from Jan. 11 to 23, 2021.
The pilot test will be supervised by the Department of Education (DepEd) and the National Task Force on Covid-19.
President Rodrigo Duterte approved the dry run in a Cabinet meeting on Monday night, Palace spokesman Harry Roque said in a virtual presser.
Timeline
DepEd regional directors will have to submit to Education Secretary Leonor Briones a list of nominated schools for the dry run from December 14 to 18.
Briones will finalize the list of schools where the pilot test will be held on Dec. 28.
Officials of chosen schools will undergo orientation from Jan. 4 to 8 next year.
After the Jan. 11 to 23 dry run, regional DepEd offices must submit reports on the pilot implementation including a final recommendation to Duterte.
Participation voluntary
Roque stressed that participation in the dry run would be voluntary.
“Pilot lang po ito. Ito’y isang buwan lamang. Wala pong pilitan, voluntary po ito. Kinakailangan mayroong approval ng mga magulang at bukod po dito, dapat papayag din po ang LGU (local government unit). Kung ayaw ng LGU, hindi po natin ipipilit itong pilot face-to-face,” he said.
Parents must also consent to their children’s participation in the pilot test.
“Maisasagawa ito kung may commitment lamang for shared responsibility ang DepEd, mga lokal na pamahalaan at mga magulang; kinakailangang pumayag iyong tatlo,” Roque explained. John Ezekiel J. Hirro