PASIG City Mayor Vico Sotto and Representative Roman Romulo heaped praises on Education Secretary Leonor Briones and the Department of Education for championing learning continuity.

“Maraming salamat at congratulations po sa lahat ng mga nagawa ninyo this time of pandemic, and alam ko po na lalong gaganda pa ang sistema ng edukasyon sa buong bansa natin, at pati na rin po rito sa Pasig habang mas nagiging normal na po ang ating buhay ulit,” Sotto said.

Briones recently met teachers and student-leaders in the National Capital Region.

As she listened to inspiring stories of hope and success of teachers and learners amidst the pandemic at the Tanghalang Rizal auditorium in Rizal High School, the DepEd chief said she is hopeful that more schools will be allowed to hold limited face-to-face classes by January 2022.

She reminded stakeholders that should the agency expand the limited face-to-face classes, schools will still implement blended learning. Currently, 28 public schools are implementing limited face-to-face classes as part of the pilot phase.

“Our version of face-to-face will not be like the face-to-face teachers are used to. Because it still blended with other methodologies because the risk assessment from the Department of Health is very crucial. So if there will be any changes, we should be able to adapt,” Briones said.

“But we also recognize that face-to-face is very important in the learning process. So whether it will be 1 hour a week, or two days a week. The version of face-to-to face is also influenced by the degree of the risk, the necessity, and the importance of teachers working hand in hand,” she added.

With almost six months left in her term as DepEd chief, Briones shared she intends to meet learners and teachers in every region to personally engage them in improving the basic education system.

Briones visited Pasig City Science High School, one of the top performing schools in the Philippines in the last edition of the Programme for International Student Assessment, to listen to the school’s best practices in attaining learners’ good academic performance.