Three Cebu schools chosen for face-to-face classes

A TOTAL of 626 students from three schools in Cebu Province will be accommodated in the pilot implementation of limited face-to-face classes.

Department of Education (DepEd) Cebu Province Division Superintendent Marilyn Andales identified the schools as Luyong Baybay Elementary School in Bantayan town, Bantayan Island with 186 students, Basak Elementary School in Samboan town with 114 students and Pilar National High School in Pilar, Camotes Island with 326 students.

Andales told SunStar Cebu that the three schools were in the final list of schools in the region for the limited face-to-face classes.

School visit

Andales said DepEd Cebu officials went around these schools to assess their readiness for the pilot implementation.

She said every school had policies drafted by their school administrators.

Andales said a list of four schools from the Cebu Province was submitted to the DepEd Central Office but only three made it to the final list released by the Central Office.

Andales said a class of 40 students will be divided into two groups that will report twice a week in school for face-to-face classes.

Andales said students cannot get inside the classroom without wearing a facemask and faceshield. Physical distancing will also be implemented.

The classrooms must also be properly disinfected after every class, Andales added.

She said the LGUs can help provide manpower to help teachers disinfect the rooms so they can focus on facilitating limited face-to-face classes.

Andales said the three schools could provide designated open areas for the students to eat or spend their breaks.

Andales said the schools were chosen for the pilot face-to-face classes by the district supervisors based on the willingness of teachers and parents and the support of local government officials.

Meanwhile asked for comment, Bantayan Mayor Arthur Despi said he has yet to receive official word from DepEd regarding the limited face-to-face classes to be held in Luyong Baybay Elementary School.

“I have not yet received information on that but my position is I would like to have first a desirable level of vaccination before (implementing) the face to face classes in Bantayan,” Despi said.

Despi said Bantayan has fully vaccinated more than 7,000 people while more than 1,000 were inoculated with their first dose.