THE DEPARTMENT of Education is all set for the pilot run of limited face-to-face classes on November 15, Education Secretary Leonor Briones said on Wednesday.

Briones said that DepEd identified 100 public schools that will participate in the pilot run.

These schools include 10 in the Ilocos region, 10 in Central Luzon, 5 in Calabarzon, 9 in Bicol region, 3 in Western Visayas, 8 in Central Visayas, 10 in Eastern Visayas, 8 in Zamboanga Peninsula, 10 in Northern Mindanao, 10 in Davao, 12 in Soccsksargen and 14 in Caraga.

“Tulad ng napag-usapan at instruction ng President, mag-umpisa tayo with 100 public schools, 20 private schools at iilang mga international schools na may sarili naman silang patakaran,” she said during the Laging Handa press briefing.

The DepEd chief gave assurances that limited F2F classes will be safe as the agency adopted stringent safety measures, including the high vaccination turnout of teachers and personnel.

“Nakuha natin ang consent ng local governments, ni-require din natin ang parents to give their written consent,” she said.

“Kami naman sa DepEd, ini-inspect namin ang mga napipiling eskwelahan na kailangang handa ang facilities, may social distancing, may gamot, malapit tayo sa mga health stations. At finally may risk assessment galing sa DOH,” she explained.

For now, Briones said no schools in the National Capital Region will join the dry run of in-person classes.

In the same briefing, DepEd Assistant Secretary Malcom Garma bared that 57 private schools have submitted their applications for the pilot implementation.

The final list of private schools to push through with F2F classes will be released on November 12.