Double-shift classes mark school opening

MORE classes in public elementary and high school levels in Cebu will be held in double-shifts, but education officials are optimistic that this won’t affect the performance of students.

“Based on previous experience, the students who attended classes on double-shift still had a good academic  performance. It won’t be a problem,” said Arden Monisit, Cebu provincial schools division superintendent.

Monisit said the first shift begins from 6 a.m until 2 p.m and the second session begins by two p.m until 10 p.m.

He said they will finalize the schedule for classes today after the enrollment.

Monisit disclosed this last week just as elementary and secondary schools in Cebu open classes today.

He said 1,087 classrooms are ready to accommodate nearly 1.4 million students in Cebu.

Textbooks were already distributed to the teachers and students during the preparation of the Brigada Eskwela program last May 27.

The teachers underwent a two week training to update themselves on new teaching strategies.

Cebu has 14,000 public school teachers, including kindergarten.

About 1,300 kindergarten classes will be opened to accommodate the start of the K+12 program that requires children to enroll in kindergarten prior to studying in elementary school.

Monisit said there’s still a shortage of teachers for kindergarten.

He said they will decide whether or not to deploy some Grade One teachers who hold half-day classes to teach in kindergarten.

He also encouraged parents to immediately report to the Department of Education (DepEd) any additional fees not approved by the Parents-Teachers Association (PTA).

Monisit said public schools in the towns of Liloan, Consolacion and Minglanilla often receive complaints of teachers collecting unauthorized contributions. /Reporter Candeze R. Mongaya