Classes in public schools in Calabarzon suspended from Jan. 17 to 29

HOME VISIT In this photo taken in February, public school teacher Hazel Broqueza visits her Grade 1 student in the family’s house in Cainta, Rizal, to check on her progress as schools resort to distance learning during the pandemic. Broqueza says Mariana and her brother, third grader Mariano, have failed to participate in online classes at home due to a lack of a suitable mobile phone. —LYN RILLON

MANILA, Philippines — Classes in public schools in the Calabarzon region are suspended from January 17 to 29 as the region grappled with rising COVID-19 cases, the Department of Education (DepEd) announced.

In a regional memorandum dated January 13, the DepEd said the suspension covers the provinces of Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Quezon, and Rizal.

“This suspension includes all other school activities, whether physical or virtual, that involve school-based personnel, learners, and parents,” the DepEd said.

The scheduled mid-year break on January 31 to February 5 will remain, DepEd said.

Meanwhile, DepEd said private schools, in consultation with their respective parents’ associations, may exercise their own discretion relative to the suspension of classes and K to 12 learning activities when COVID-19 risks in their respective areas are high.

DepEd has also suspended classes in Metro Manila public schools from January 15 to 22 amid the teachers’ request for a health break following the increasing number of COVID-19 cases in the region.

In a memorandum addressed to the schools division superintendents of NCR, DepEd said classes shall be suspended starting January 15 and shall resume on January 24.

EDV