THE GUIDELINES issued for the conduct of limited face-to-face classes went through a series of consultations to ensure the safety of stakeholders, Education Secretary Leonor Briones said.

The DepEd consulted officials of the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Disease and concerned groups in the drawing up of the guidelines for the reopening of schools amid the pandemic.

“Maraming humiling na mga magulang at local governments sa DepEd kung maaari ba silang mag-face-to-face classes and we sincerely understand their position. It is why we precisely pushed for the crafting of the guidelines for the limited face-to-face classes together with our child health experts,” Briones said.

Last September 27, DepEd and the Department of Health signed the Joint Memorandum Circular for the Pilot Implementation of Face-to-Face Classes in Basic Education.

The circular features four key pillars —  Safe Operations, Teaching and Learning, Including the Most Marginalized, and Wellbeing and Protection.

It provides guidance on safe school traffic management, protective measures and safety procedures, psychological support, and contingency plan, among others.

Briones said that no faculty or students will be forced to attend the rollout of limited physical classes that will start on November 15.

“The Department’s utmost priority is still the safety of our stakeholders. Hinding-hindi natin pipilitin ang sinuman para sumali sa pilot phase. Ngunit hangad ng DepEd na pagkatapos nito, mas magkaroon ng confidence ang ating mga guro at magulang para sa mga ginagawa nating aksiyon upang dahan-dahang ibalik ang face-to-face classes,” she said.