BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY

According to Hernando-Malipot (2021), for the Department of Education (DepEd),

the start of the pilot implementation of limited face-to-face classes in basic education

this month was "fairly successful." In a virtual press briefing, Education Secretary

Leonor Briones gave updates on the pilot face-to-face classes and other issues related

to the education sector, along with other officials from DepEd from the Central and

Regional Offices. It is said that there are 7,324 students and 1,129 school personnel

who are participating in the pilot face-to-face classes in public schools. Citing initial

reports, Garma noted that "73.3 percent of students" who are attending limited in-

person classes are from kindergarten to Grade 3 and 25 percent are learners from

Senior High School (SHS). Meanwhile, Garma said that 1.7 percent are both from

kindergarten to grade 3 and SHS levels. Based on initial reports from participating

schools, he noted that among the challenges are "insufficient budget for health

essentials" as well as the compliance of students to health and safety protocols.

Another concern was the "improper disposal of infectious waste materials" in the pilot

schools. Learning aspects include "limited time to clarify lessons" and the difficulty of

seeing what is written on the board due to physical distancing. "Learners cannot clearly

hear what the teacher says" because their speech is affected by the face masks that

they are wearing during the pilot face-to-face classes.

This study was concerned about the students' resistance to talking about

physical contact, which can impair their mental and emotional states as they progress

through the new normal protocol. The research demonstrates how the influence of
students' perceptions and learnings often results in a situation in which the new normal

face to face is marked by inconveniency. This recognition should be taken into account

by department of education and student assistance providers. In this approach,

inconvenience might be viewed as a learning resource rather than a problem.

Schooling is one of the most affected aspects of human life due to coronavirus

disease-2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. Since the rise and threat of the pandemic, many

countries around the world have decided to temporarily close schools that have affected

millions of students. Consequently, students who are mostly children have been facing

a learning crisis due to the pandemic. In a recent correspondence published in this

journal, the authors cited that every country has the responsibility to come up with

strategies to reopen schools in a safe manner. In the Philippines, the government’s

Department of Education has come up with guidelines to implement online and modular

distance learning delivery of instruction. This is to safeguard students from being

infected by the disease. However, plans to conduct the pilot implementation of limited

face-to-face delivery in low-risk areas of COVID-19 transmission for January 2021 have

been approved by the president but later recalled due to the threat of the new strain of

COVID-19. Predicaments are raised whether the country is ready to open its schools for

students to go for face-to-face learning despite having been one of the longest and

strictest lockdowns in the world.

School reopening for face-to-face interactions must be carefully planned to ensure the

safety of students as well as teachers and school staff in a staged fashion especially in

following physical distancing. Planning and execution of school health protocols during

this pandemic must be supported by the truthful data being given by various institutions.
Last 11 December 2020, the World Health Organization (WHO) has published a

checklist to support school reopening and the preparation for the possible resurgence of

COVID-19. WHO cited that ‘The checklist is aligned with, and builds upon, existing

COVID-19-related WHO guidelines and is structured around protective measures

related to: 1) hand hygiene and respiratory etiquette; 2) physical distancing; 3) use of

masks in schools; 4) environmental cleaning and ventilation; and 5) respecting

procedures for isolation of all people with symptoms ’ The checklist helps policymakers

and school officials to enhance compliance and adherence to public health protocols in

the time of the pandemic. (Sarmiento, Sarmiento CL, Tolentino, 2021)

Teachers face challenges such as "limited time to accommodate student

concerns" and "limited teaching and learning resources." Teachers also raised concerns

about the multiple attention to learners in the face-to-face classes and those using

modules. Some learners are not ready to participate in physical classes (Hernando-

Malipot, 2021).

This research is critical during this pandemic, when most Filipino students are

undergoing new standard face-to-face protocols, and we need to ensure that they are

capable of following them. It's to offer them the assurance they need to pursue the

education they want. This is crucial since it stresses their adaptability and assures that

they can master the new protocols completely. Furthermore, school health measures for

conducting face-to-face classes must be carefully planned in accordance with national

and international criteria to guarantee that children are safe from COVID-19. After all,
education is important to students' lives. Every government has the responsibility to see

that this is done.