MANILA, Philippines — According to the Department of Education (DepEd), three out of five teachers have been received their COVD-19 vaccinations.
DepEd is currently preparing for the start of pilot in-person classes. Current guideline state that only vaccinated teachers and non-teaching personnel are allowed to participate in the pilot run.
In its report, DepEd noted that a total of 588,561 or 56.7% of all teaching and non-teaching personnel have been inoculated. The department failed to mention how many have completed their two doses.
Education Secretary Leonor Briones remans hopeful that more personnel will receive the vaccine in the coming months. Briones mentioned that unvaccinated teaching staff will continue on with distance learning.
“It goes to show that majority of us want to have a safer school year in 2021-2022, especially since we are about to start limited in-person classes.”
Education Secretary Leonor Briones
The pilot run for in-person classes is scheduled to start on November 15, 2021. All teaching and non-teaching personnel who will participate must be fully-vaccinated. The pilot run will consist of smaller and socially-distant classes. Moreover, students who will participate must secure consent from their parents or guardians.