DepEd considers AM / PM classroom shifts

Department of Education spokesman Michael Poa said the plan is to implement a double shift policy, and he did not discount the possibility of having three shifts in extreme cases.

Morning and afternoon class schedules is an option if the DepEd pushes through with its plan to reimplement the double shift policy to prevent classroom congestion.

Poa said this is one of the interventions that they are considering to address possible classroom shortages.

“We are considering shifting. We will have shifts like what we used to do. Some will go to class in the morning, then the other learners will come in the afternoon,” Poa said.

“This is to try to make sure that we still will be able to comply with the minimum health and safety standards, including physical distancing,” he added.

Some groups have expressed concern over the DepEd’s plan to mandate face-to-face classes starting Nov. 2, citing classroom shortages.

“We’re looking at two shifts at the moment because having three shifts may result in students going home late or class schedules having compressed hours. So right now, what we’re really planning is two shifts per day unless absolutely necessary,” he said.

The DepEd has yet to release detailed guidelines on class sizes for the school year.

It amended the agency’s previous policy on face-to-face classes during the pandemic, which required occupied chairs to be one to two meters apart. It also set a maximum number of students to just 20 per classroom.

Prior to the pandemic, class sizes average at around 30 to 40, with some even reaching as many as 60.