Davao City, Cotabato join NCR in passing up on DepEd's face-to-face dry run

Davao City and Cotabato have begged off from the pilot implementation of face-to-face classes in January 2021, the Department of Education said.

The Metro Manila council earlier said the National Capital Region will not participate in the January dry run.

Earlier, the  Coordinating Council of Private Educational Associations said schools were not prepared to conduct face-to-face classes this school year.

Interviewed on GMA News TV’s Balitanghali, COCOPEA managing director Joseph Noel Estrada said the DepEd has yet to consult their sector on the return of face-to-face classes in some areas this school year.

For Estrada, discussions about conducting face-to-face classes this school year should have started prior to the opening of classes so schools could plan their investments and resources for these.

The DepEd has nominated more than 1,000 schools nationwide for the pilot implementation of face-to-face classes next year.

The dry run will be conducted in areas with low COVID-19 risk.

In May this year, the government disallowed face-to-face classes until a COVID-19 vaccine is discovered and communities have adjusted to the “new normal” in light of the pandemic.

Remote classes started on October 5, several weeks later than the initially planned on August 24, to give teachers and students more time to prepare for online and modular distance learning.

Lessons this school year may be given via online classes, or via use of printed modules, or use of TV and radio due to the COVID-19 pandemic. -Ma. Angelica Garcia/NB, GMA News