COVID-free island eyed as face-to-face class pilot area

By Felipe V. Celino 

ROXAS CITY, Capiz— The Department of Education (DepEd) Roxas City Division is recommending the school in the island barangay of Olotayan as pilot area for limited face-to-face classes.

Dr. Rogelio Amador of DepEd-Roxas City said they held a meeting to discuss the possibility of holding physical classes in Olotayan.

Olotayan was considered as the island village was free from coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) and the students and teachers were somehow isolated.

The United Nations (UN), United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and World Health Organization (WHO) hailed the Philippines government’s decision to allow face-to-face classes in areas with low COVID cases.

The three organizations said “every child has the right to education and schools are central to children’s development, safety and well-being.”

“As some schools are set to reopen on a small scale, public health, and safety measures, such as masks wearing, hand washing, physical distancing and good ventilation, remain equally important to keep every child and every teacher safe. We commend the DepEd and DOH for the collaborative preparations for the pilot run. Together with our partners, we will continue to work closely with the Government in support of safe in-person learning beginning with the pilot schools.”

Department of Education (DepEd) Secretary Leonor Briones earlier said that 100 schools have been endorsed to conduct limited physical classes.