9 Ilocos Sur schools eyed to join pilot run of in-person classes

In-person classes resume in Alao-ao Elementary School in Bangui town, Ilocos Norte. At least 31 of the 63 enrolled pupils went back to school on Nov. 15 to participate in the pilot run of physical classes. (Photo courtesy of DepEd Ilocos Norte)

LAOAG CITY, Ilocos Norte—The Department of Education (DepEd) in the Ilocos Region endorsed at least nine schools in Ilocos Sur to join the pilot run of in-person classes.

Tolentino Aquino, DepEd Ilocos director, said Wednesday that the local governments where the schools are situated had given their concurrence for the holding of the in-person classes in their areas.

The schools also underwent a series of safety assessments, Tolentino said.

Tolentino said they were expecting a decision from the DepEd central office within this week.

Of the nine schools in Ilocos Sur, eight are public, he said.

At least 11 public and private schools in the region, with nine in Ilocos Norte and two in Pangasinan reopened their schools for physical classes on Nov. 15.

During the first week of in-person classes, Tolentino said teachers had encountered some “minor problems, but these [were] manageable.”

“Mostly because of the children’s excitement, they [tend] to violate health protocols but these were immediately addressed by the teachers,” he said.

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