SCHOOL

SAFETY
ASSESSMENT
TOOL (SSAT)
ONLINE ORIENTATION FOR
RO and SDO PERSONNEL
FREQUENTLY ASKED
QUESTIONS (FAQs)
 How were the 638 identified as
nominated schools?

An initial assessment last December 2020 was conducted

through the School Readiness Checklist which contains indicators
that show readiness of the schools for the pilot implementation of
the face-to-face learning modality. Upon the accomplishment of
the SRC, 638 schools passed the assessment and were pre-
identified as nominated schools.
 What is the difference between
SRC and SSAT?

The School Readiness Checklist which was first used to assess the
readiness of the schools contains indicators only. On the other
hand, the SSAT contains indicators and standards based on the
recommendations from series of consultative meetings with DOH,
WHO, UNICEF, and Child Health experts and suggestions from
DepEd concerned offices.

Additionally, the SSAT has been cross-checked with WHO's

Checklist for Safe Reopening of Schools.
 Why is the SSAT redeployed?

Given the current condition and situation of COVID-19 in the

country, the SSAT will be redeployed to gauge the readiness of
the schools for the pilot implementation of the face-to-face
learning modality at present. The tool shall be accomplished by
the 638 pre-identified schools that passed the initial assessment
using the SRC.
 Who shall accomplish the SSAT?

The School Heads (SH) shall input the data on SSAT using the
Google Forms link assigned to their region. The School Head,
prior to the accomplishment of the e-SSAT, shall conduct
consultations with key school stakeholders.
 Is it required to meet all standards
under an indicator?

Yes.

The standards set under the indicators must be

met in order to consider the indicator achieved.
 Can we change the entry
we have first entered in the SSAT?

Yes.

You may reenter your answers in the Google

Forms. Keep in mind that the SDO will count
your/schools' latest entry on the day of the
deadline as official.
 Until when can the schools enter
their data on SSAT?

The schools may enter their data on SSAT

on or before 24 September 2021.
 What will happen after the schools have
accomplished the SSAT?
Upon accomplishment of the SSAT by the schools, the SDOs, through
the composite team shall validate the veracity of the data by
conducting a monitoring visit to the schools between September 27-
October 1, 2021.

For schools that met all indicators, they shall be informed of the
scheduled monitoring visit. For schools that did not meet all
indicators, the SDOs shall continuously provide technical assistance
to meet all indicators, this is in preparation for the expanded
implementation of the face-to-face classes.
What will happen if the data of the schools that
met all indicators have been found valid?

The schools that met all indicators and have undergone data
validation shall be added to the SDO's list of schools that met
all indicators and will qualify for the pilot implementation of
the face-to-face learning modality which will be forwarded
to the Policy, Planning, and Research Division of the ROs.
 What will happen if the data of the schools that
met all indicators have been found mistagged?
In the event where the SDOs find issues on the validity of data
submitted by the schools, such as indicators that are tagged as met but
are actually unmet, SDOs shall provide technical assistance to help
the schools meet the unmet indicators.

If the school has met all indicators prior to the pilot implementation
of the limited face-to-face classes, the SDO shall consider their
inclusion. In case the school was not able to meet all indicators prior
to the pilot implementation, they must continuously be provided with
technical assistance until they are ready to participate for the
expanded implementation of the face-to-face classes.
Can the schools that have not met all indicators still
participate for the pilot implementation on the
face-to-face learning modality?
For schools that did not meet indicators, the SDOs shall inform them
of their unmet indicators and shall provide technical assistance to
help them prepare for the expanded implementation of the face-to-
face learning modality. The school may only be eligible to participate
for the pilot implementation if they have undergone data validation,
and has met all indicators prior to the pilot implementation.

The SDOs shall monitor the progress of the schools and shall update
the schools' latest data in their database every two weeks after the
deadline of the SSAT.
 How will the nomination for the schools that meet
all indicators proceed?

Upon finalization of the data, the designated focal person of the

SDOs shall consolidate the list of schools that meet all indicators
and will qualify to participate in the limited face-to-face learning
modality. The said list must be forwarded to the PPRD of their
respective Regional Offices.

The final list of schools from the region shall be cross-checked

with DOH's data on risk classification.
How will the final list of participating schools be
notified for the conduct of pilot implementation on
face-to-face learning modality?

The Central Office shall release a memorandum informing the

schools on their participation for the pilot implementation on face-
to-face learning modality.
 Who shall lead the SDO Composite team
(School Health, DRRM, Planning Officer, SDO Engineer, CID)?

The conduct of the pilot implementation is a nation-wide concern

and multi-disciplinary in approach, thus the need for a composite
team. The Lead / Focal Person of the composite team shall be
identified based on the main area on the SSAT. i.e., concerns on
curriculum shall be led by the representative from the CID.
Will there be a separate orientation for the identified
schools or School Heads in accomplishing the SSAT?

If there is a need to orient your SDO, this will be

better conducted per SDO.
When is the target date for the pilot and expanded
implementations on the face-to-face learning
modality?

As provided in the background of the conduct of pilot

implementation on face-to-face learning modality, the
dates are subject for the approval and decision of the
President. Hence, at this time, no date has
been identified yet.
 Is the pilot implementation on the face-to-face
learning modality limited to public schools,
or is it also open to private schools?
Private schools are considered for the pilot implementation. As
discussed earlier, requirements for a private school to be eligible for
the pilot implementation will be released in the Guidelines.

For reiteration, private schools that signify to participate, the following

requirements shall be complied prior to the authorization from the Regional
Director: Submission of a formal letter addressed to the Regional Director
expressing the following: interest to implement limited face-to-face classes;
willingness to submit a report on lessons and recommendations on a monthly
basis during the pilot implementation and quarterly for the expanded
implementation of face-to-face classes.
 What will happen if schools are still not meeting the
indicators despite the technical assistance provided by
the SDOs? Can this be raised to the higher offices?

This may be raised to the higher offices as included in the

report monitoring system SDOs and ROs shall conduct. They
shall provide report indicating main areas / indicators /
standards schools find challenging to meet or remain unmet
even after the provision of technical assistance.
Is the vaccination status of teachers and personnel
in the schools indicated in the SSAT?

Yes. It is included in the online version of the SSAT.

While complete vaccination of teachers and personnel is not

considered as a requirement for the pilot implementation,
the vaccination status must be closely monitored.
Does a pre-identified school need to complete the SSAT
even though the barangay has recorded positive
COVID-19 cases?

Pre-identified schools must accomplish the

pre-assessment questions of the SSAT and indicate that their
barangays have recorded positive case/s. This means the
schools cannot proceed to answering the SSAT.
If the region or province is classified as Alert Level 4,
are the pre-identified schools still qualified?

The data gathered on SSAT shall be forwarded to DOH

for the cross-checking of the agency's data on risk
classification. The final list of qualified schools shall
undergo cross-checking before its issuance.
What if the pre-identified schools have been requested
for use as Temporary Quarantine Facility, will they still
be nominated for the pilot implementation?

No.

If the school is an isolation area, this means that the area

is a high-risk area.
 Are healthcare facilities in areas of
pre-identified schools considered?

The capacity of healthcare facilities are considered in the DOH

risk classification which shall be used when DOH crosscheck
the data of the schools with DOH's data.
For queries and concerns, you may reach out to
SCHOOL EFFECTIVENESS DIVISION (SED) for matters related
to SSAT:
bhrod.sed@deped.gov.ph

EDUCATIONAL MANAGEMENT AND INFORMATION SYSTEM

(EMISD) for matters related to administering the SSAT
through Google Forms:
ps.emisd@deped.gov.ph
SCHOOL
SAFETY
ASSESSMENT
TOOL (SSAT)
ONLINE ORIENTATION FOR
RO and SDO PERSONNEL