DepEd reports ‘smooth’ school opening in Eastern Visayas

Map of Eastern Visayas

TACLOBAN CITY — The first day of classes in Eastern Visayas went “smooth” as more than 1.11 million students went back to their respective schools on Monday.

Jasmin Calzita, DepEd regional information officer, said there were no major problems during the first day of the classes.

“The opening of classes here in the region was peaceful. This was achieved with the help of our police force,” she said.

At the Leyte National High School (LNHS), most of its students, especially girls, wore their uniforms even if Vice President and Education Sec. Sara Duterte ordered the wearing of school uniforms non-mandatory.

Bernie Jude Lamograr, the school’s information officer, said they were delighted to see their students wearing their uniform.

“Yes, we are happy that they wore their uniforms. It’s so nice to see them and not on their OOTD (outfit of the day),” he said.

READ: Poe says gov’t could have been ‘better prepared’ for school opening

At the Rizal Central School, one of the biggest elementary schools in Tacloban, only 50 percent of the enrolled 1,973 students have been vaccinated, says school principal Imelda Gayas.

“But all of our 53 teachers are now fully vaccinated with some of them having their booster shot already,” she said.

Gayas said she will ask the City Health Office if they can conduct vaccination at the school. She, however, stressed that this will need parental consent if they would allow their children to get vaccinated.

The school principal also said that pupils who will go home to take their lunch have to present a slip pass as they are not allowed to leave the school until the classes are over.

Classes start at 7:30 a.m. and end at 5 p.m.