DepEd: 46% of schools are prepared for in-person classes five days a week
This updated assessment of school readiness was provided by the Department of Education (DepEd) and the Office of the Vice President (OVP) on Friday, three days before the start of the new academic year on Monday, August 22.
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According to Education Undersecretary Michael Poa, a DepEd spokesperson, at least 24,175 schools can hold in-person classes during a five-day school week, accounting for 46 percent of the 54,900 campuses nationwide.
Meanwhile, 51.8 percent of schools, or 29,721 schools, will continue to use the so-called blended modality, with in-person classes at least three days a week and the rest conducted online or through learning modules.
‘Misgivings’
The remaining 1,004 schools, which Poa estimated accounted for only 1.29 percent, would continue to be restricted to distance learning. Only last Monday, DepEd stated that 90 percent of the country's 47,000 public schools were expected to implement in-person classes by Monday, while private schools would continue to use blended learning until Oct. 31.
However, the Coordinating Council of Private Educational Associations of the Philippines (Cocopea) wants the Department of Education to allow these schools to continue using blended learning after that date. That is supported by the advocacy group Bantay Konsyumer, Kalsada, Kuryente. "We are aware that the parents of these students are concerned about a complete return to face-to-face mode, and their concerns are entirely valid and understandable," said Patrick Climaco, the group's secretary general.
According to DepEd's Department Order No. 34, all public and private schools must resume full-day in-person classes by November 2, more than two months after school begins. Only "extremely exceptional cases" may continue with either online or blended learning.
However, the department has not yet disclosed which schools may be exempt from the order, stating that this would be determined during the transition period between August 22 and November 2. According to Poa, over 27 million students have registered for the upcoming school year, accounting for 96 percent of DepEd's target of 28.6 million enrollees.
‘Deficiencies’
"We will implement strategies such as shifting and blended learning to reduce the shortage in areas where there is a shortage of classrooms and chairs," Poa said.
However, various groups call that assessment of school year preparations into question.
"The fact that less than half of the schools are capable of implementing 100% face-to-face classes demonstrates that there are still many gaps and problems that must be addressed," Alliance of Concerned Teachers (ACT) chair Vladimir Quetua said in a statement.
"The very least DepEd can do is be honest about the situation and admit its shortcomings," he added.
Benjo Basas, chair of the Teachers' Dignity Coalition (TDC), stated, "On the question of readiness for the start of classes on Monday, our teachers are ready despite their reservations." However, as in the past, the system is unprepared, and it will be up to teachers to fill in the gaps."
"We are consistently receiving reports from the field, from our teachers." We desperately need classrooms, chairs, and educational materials. "Not to mention the shortage of personnel, both teaching and nonteaching," Basas added.
TDC stated that several classes had as many as 50 assigned students, which would have an impact on the implementation of physical distancing.
Moises Tamondong, principal of Manuel Luis Quezon Elementary School in Caloocan City, stated that the school would need to implement three shifts in order to accommodate all of its students.
‘Struggles’
He also stated that there were no classrooms available for kindergarten students, and that some rooms had to be partitioned into two to accommodate all Grade 1 classes.
"This is how it is at my school. That is why I am appealing to anyone who can assist us in providing adequate learning spaces for our children," Tamondong said.
"I hope that President Marcos and Vice President [and Education Secretary] Sara Duterte will be able to see our struggles and the hardships of other schools so that these issues can be addressed immediately," he added.
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