TWENTY months since in-person classes were suspended throughout the country due to the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic, more than 2,000 public elementary and senior high school students in 28 schools in the National Capital Region (NCR) go back this morning to attend limited face-to-face classes in the region.
Wilfredo Cabral, officer-in-charge of the Department of Education’s (DepEd) office for the undersecretary of human resources, said Metro Manila is the last region in the country join the experimental in-person classes, which will end in January next year.
President Duterte approved the pilot run of limited face-to-face classes in areas with low COVID cases last September 20 upon the recommendation of the DepEd. Metro Manila is under Alert Level 2 until December 15.
The DepEd has approved the participation of 177 schools nationwide in the pilot run of the in-person classes, which started on November 15.
Cabral said the 28 public NCR schools underwent stringent preparations and have been issued their safety seals prior to their reopening today.
He said protocols and contingency plans have been put in place just in case students, teachers or school personnel show symptoms or test positive of COVID-19.
“One of the contingency plans (includes) barangays providing ambulances. (These) should be ready and should be placed near the schools,” he also said.
Cabral said the implementation of face-to-face classes will be suspended once a surge in cases is reported in any of Metro Manila’s city, and especially if the Omicron variant is detected.
The 28 participating public schools in Metro Manila are the Comembo Elementary School in Makati City, Putatan Elementary School and Tunasan National High School in Muntinlupa City, Don Galo Elementary School and La Huerta Elementary School in Parañaque City, Padre Zamora Elementary School in Pasay City, Ricardo P. Cruz Sr. Elementary School and Sen. Rene Cayetano Memorial Science and Technology High School in Taguig City, and Las Piñas National High School and Las Piñas City National Senior High School-Manuyo Campus in Las Piñas City.
In-person classes were also allowed at Amado T. Reyes Elementary School and Renato R. Lopez Elementary School in Mandaluyong City, St. Mary Elementary School and Tañong High School in Marikina City, Pedro Cruz Elementary School in San Juan City, Ugong National High School and Pasig Elementary School in Pasig City, Aurora A. Quezon Elementary School and Ramon Q. Avancena High School in Manila, Bagong Silangan Elementary School and Payatas B Elementary School in Quezon City, Andres Bonifacio Elementary School and Bagumbong Elementary School in Caloocan City, Santiago Syjuco Memorial Integrated Secondary School in Malabon City, Bangkulasi Senior High School and Filemon T Lizan Senior High School in Navotas City, and Roberta De Jesus Elementary School – Disiplina Village Bignay Extension and Tagalag Elementary School in Valenzuela City.
Records from the DepEd show that there are more than 27.2 million learners enrolled in public and private schools nationwide from Kindergarten until high school for school year 2021-2022.
