The Department of Education (DepEd) in Region 3 is gearing up to make all public schools in Central Luzon qualify for the progressive expansion of face-to-face (F2F) classes.
In a report by the DepEd Regional Office III on Friday, the composite teams and principals of the various public schools in the region underwent orientation this week on the teaching guidelines and learning components in the implementation of the face-to-face classes.
DepEd regional director May Eclar said the orientation aims to clarify and emphasize the process of preparing the schools on how they can have the school safety assessment tool compliance certificate (SSATCC) and safety seal.
Eclar said the SSATCC is an indication that schools are prepared to implement face-to-face classes while waiting for the concurrence of their respective local chief executives and the improvement of the health conditions in their area.
“Nilalayon ng ating regional office na sa pagtapos ng buwan ng Marso,100 percent SSATCC compliant na ang mga lahat ng pampublikong paaralan sa rehiyon (Our regional office aims that all public schools in the region are 100 percent SSATCC compliant by the end of March),” Eclar said in a social media post.
As of March 14, the DepEd regional office has awarded SSATCC to 1,764 public and seven private schools in the region.
Under the interim guidelines on the expansion of limited face-to-face classes, regional directors are authorized to continue the implementation of limited face-to-face classes of the original pilot schools, and the commencement of the progressive expansion phase for both public and private schools provided that expansion schools have been validated as compliant with the standards of school safety assessment tool (SSAT).
The SSAT evaluates the readiness of schools following the four indicators, such as managing school operations, teaching and learning, wellbeing and protection, and home-school coordination.
The SSATCC, which affirms that a school has been found compliant to all the four indicators in the SSAT, shall be displayed conspicuously at all entrance points according to prescribed dimensions provided in Regional Memorandum No. 145 s.2022 or the implementation guidelines on the issuance of school safety assessment tool compliance certificate for the progressive expansion of limited face-to-face classes.
It is valid for six months from the date of issuance and shall be renewable subject to continued compliance with all eligibility requirements.
The SSATCC may be revoked through a valid complaint of a willful violation of any of the minimum public health standards, or if there is a clustering of coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) cases reported in the school.
There are 3,656 public elementary and secondary schools in the region. (PNA)
