READY TO LEARN: A teacher meets her pupils, among them Aeta children, at Owaog Nebloc Elementary School in Botolan, Zambales, as in-person classes resume in select areas across the country on Monday. (Photo by JOANNA ROSE AGLIBOT / Inquirer Northern Luzon)
School officials in several provinces in Luzon and the Visayas said the first day of the pilot run of in-person classes in their areas on Monday was glitch-free but things could be improved further to assure the safety of students and teachers.
In Ilocos Norte province, health protocols were strictly enforced in nine schools joining the pilot run but some chose to not install plastic barriers inside classrooms, which accommodated a maximum of 12 students each, according to Valerie Talamayan, the Department of Education (DepEd) information officer in the province.
Students were seated at least a meter apart and had to strictly wear their face masks and shields during classes until noon, she said.
The provincial government stressed the importance of complying with public health standards in schools to ensure the success of the pilot run participated in by at least 300 students and teachers.
Localized approach
In a statement on Monday, Ilocos Norte Gov. Matthew Marcos Manotoc said he was “thrilled” to see students back in their classrooms. He said that the provincial government would continue to work with DepEd on its next plan to improve “the ventilation [in the classrooms] so we can do away with the face shields.”
The key, Manotoc said, is to create natural ventilation by opening windows and doors to reduce exposure inside the classrooms.
Manotoc had been advocating for a “localized approach” in the implementation of in-person classes.
At the end of the first day of physical classes, barangay health workers were tasked to disinfect the classrooms used as part of DepEd health protocols. On Tuesday, Talamayan said students were divided into two groups and would come to their classes based on their assigned schedule.
In Pangasinan, the first day of in-person classes saw teachers of Longos Elementary School in Alaminos City adjusting to teaching methods and dealing with students under a more restrained learning environment, said school principal Ma. Fremilyn Rabago.
Not taking chances
“Generally, the students are well-behaved and they know how to maintain physical distance. They are already familiar with the rules,” Rabago told the Inquirer by phone on Monday.In the Visayas, DepEd officials said they did not want to take any chances.
Dr. Salustiano Jimenez, DepEd director in Central Visayas region, said their challenge now was how to sustain the success of the first day of classes.“I will ask the division office to keep monitoring the schools every day, and to remind the teachers and students not to be complacent in the days to come,” he said.
The pilot run for the resumption of in-person classes in Cebu province included eight schools in the towns of Samboan, Malabuyoc, Balamban, Bantayan, Oslob, Moalboal and Pilar, and Bogo City.
FIRST ORDER OF THE DAY: Students, teachers, and parents at Tiongson Elementary School in Ligao City, Albay, attend the school’s flag ceremony before classes start on Monday. (Photo by MICHAEL B. JAUCIAN / Inquirer Southern Luzon)
Jimenez, who observed classes in at least two schools, said they did not encounter any problems as teachers and students had long been preparing for the start of classes.
He said schools had been fitted with wash areas, barriers and signages, among others, to conform with health guidelines.
The DepEd central office gave each participating school P100,000 while the regional office released another P50,000 to fund improvements in classrooms and other areas under a “new normal” setup.
Jimenez said all teachers and students who took part in the in-person classes complied with the health protocols, such as wearing of face masks and observing physical distancing.
“Among the things we considered in allowing face-to-face classes in schools is, No. 1, the number of COVID-19 cases in an area. Those allowed to conduct [in-person] classes are schools located in low-risk areas,” he said.
Prepared
In Western Visayas, in-person classes in three schools went smoothly.
“We have no problems so far and all protocols have been followed. There will be strict monitoring on the daily operations for the next two months,” said Hernani Escullar Jr., DepEd Western Visayas information officer.
Classes are being held at Mayabay Primary School in Barbaza town and Igsoro Integrated School in Bugasong town, both in Antique province, and Laserna Integrated School in Nabas town in Aklan province.
Evelyn Remo, DepEd Antique schools governance and operations division chief, cited the importance of support from the community, local governments, and DepEd to help the pilot run succeed.
She said classroom setup and seating arrangement could also be improved to give students a better view of teachers and learning materials