Director Salustiano Jimenez of the Department of Education Central Visayas in an interview with PressOne.ph
The rising Covid infections in Central Visayas prompted some public schools in the region to back out of the Department of Education’s (DepEd) pilot limited face-to-face classes slated in November.
From the original 52 nominated schools across the region, only 12 passed the Department of Health’s (DOH) assessment, said DepEd Central Visayas Director Salustiano Jimenez in an interview with PressOne.ph.
Jimenez said from the 12, only eight will continue with the limited face-to-face class after four barangays from the Division of Bogo City in northern Cebu backed out after their area recently recorded more Covid infections.
However, the said barangays assured DepEd that they would join once cases have decreased, he said.
Jimenez said schools that were nominated are either upland or in island schools where adherence to minimum health protocol will be manageable due to the relatively lower number of enrolled students compared to schools in city centers that have more enrollees.
After a thorough review from the DOH and DepEd, pilot schools will simultaneously start resumption of face-to-face classes on Nov. 15 and end on Feb. 2022.
In the meantime, participating grade levels would be from kindergarten to Grade 3 for primary and senior high school levels.
“Eventually, if our pilot (run) is successful, we will eventually include other grade levels,” Jimenez said.
Participating public schools include the following: Siocon Elementary School in Bogo City; Luyong Baybay Elementary School, Bantayan Island; and Pilar National High School, Pilar, Camotes Island, all located in northern Cebu.
Those located in southern Cebu include Basak Elementary School, Samboan; Mahanlud Elementary School, Malabuyoc; Cabagdalan Elementary School, Balamban; Cañang-Marcelo Luna National High School, Oslob; and Busay National High School, Moalboal.
In late September, President Rodrigo Duterte approved limited face-to-face classes in 120 qualified public and private schools throughout the country. – Ryan Sorote