DepEd 6 to start full in-person classes

By John Noel E. Herrera

The Department of Education in Western Visayas (DepEd 6) will proceed with the implementation of the five-day in-person classes starting Nov 2, 2022.

Private schools were also given the option to adopt five-day in-person classes aside from the blended and remote learning modalities.

“Yes, all public schools will proceed to five-day in-person classes. For the private schools, DepEd Central Office issued DepEd Order No. 44, s. 2022, which allows private schools to continue implementing different learning options,” DepEd 6 spokesperson Hernani Escullar Jr. said.

Data from DepEd 6 indicated that 665 private schools in the region opted to proceed with the 5-day in-person classes, while 306 continued with blended learning.

Under the amended DepEd Order No 44, all public schools “shall have transitioned to five-day in-person classes” after the adjustment period ends on Oct 31, 2022.

“After the said date, no public schools shall be allowed to implement purely distance learning or blended learning, except for those that are expressly provided an exemption by the regional director, those whose classes are automatically cancelled due to disaster and calamities, and those implementing Alternative Delivery Modes,” it added.

Escullar said that all public schools in Western Visayas have been preparing for the transition of learning modalities and constantly coordinating with the division and regional offices for further recommendations.

“Coordination meetings between the regional office, division offices, and schools are being done from time to time. Division offices have also already crafted their Basic Education Learning Continuity and Recovery Plan,” Escullar added.

Escullar also said that they are coordinating with the central office to address the shortage of classrooms as they still need 16,494 classrooms in Western Visayas.

Data also showed that there are 13,941 classrooms in the region with minor repairs, while 14,464 with major repairs.

DepEd 6 also said that they will continue to adhere to the provisions stated in DepEd Order No. 39, s. 2022, or the Health and Safety Protocols in Light of the COVID-19 Pandemic, to ensure that the students, teachers, and other non-teaching staff are safe as they transition to full in-person classes.

If there will be reported cases, the schools have also prepared a contingency plan, as infected-positive learners or personnel will be immediately isolated and contact tracing will be done to prevent a possible surge in schools.

“The schools, they must also adhere to the guidelines set by the LGUs (Local Government Units and local IATFS. The wearing of facemasks, hand washing, and physical distancing should be strictly observed in schools,” Escullar added.

Data indicated that there are already 513,875 learners in the region who are completely vaccinated, while 552,696 received the first dose of vaccine, as of Sept 30, 2022.

Data also showed that out of 84,832 total DepEd 6 personnel, 79,352 are now completely vaccinated, while 906 only received the first dose of vaccine, and 14, 678 have already received their first booster shot.

Meanwhile, based on the DepEd’s data, only 46 percent or at least 24,175 schools in the country were ready to hold in-person classes, while 29,721 or 51.8 percent continued holding blended learning approaches, as of Aug 2022.

The Alliance of Concerned Teachers (ACT) also urged DepEd to release data on public schools seeking exemption from face-to-face classes.

“We have received reports that many schools, especially in the National Capital Regions (NCR) and other urban areas are appealing to be exempted from the five-day face-to-face classes as their facilities and human resources simply cannot make it happen,” ACT said.

ACT added that the public schools would have no other choice but to appeal for exemption because of a shortage in classrooms and school personnel.