Some twenty elementary and secondary schools in the Cordillera started today the pilot testing of the education department’s limited face to face learning as part of the ongoing efforts of the government to enter the better normal.
Dr. Estela Carino, regional director of the Cordillera office of the Department of Education, disclosed that there will be 9 schools in Mountain Province, 5 schools in Kalinga and Tabuk city and 2 schools each in Benguet, Abra and Ifugao were able to qualify for the implementation of the limited face to face learning in the region.
The schools that had been given the green light to undertake the limited face to face learning are the Dalit National High School in Pilar, Abra; Mabungtot elementary School in Langiden, Abra; Ja’pa elementary School in Atok, Benguet; Asipulo Natinal High School in Asipulo, Ifugao; Liyang Elementary School in Tanudan, Kalinga; Bonong elementary School in Balbalan, Kalinga; Gayang elementary School in Sabangan, Mountain Province; Masla Elementary School in Tadian, Mountain Province; San Pablo Integrated School in Tabuk City; Toppan Integrated School in Tabuk City; Naguey Elementary School in Atok, Benguet; Maket-an elementary School in Tadian, Mountain Province; Gonogon Elementary School in Bontoc, Mountain Province; Dalican elementary School in Bontoc, Mountain Province; Cagubatan Elementary School in Tadian, Mountain Province; Monamon Proper Elementary School in Bauko, Mountain Province; Dacudac Elementary School in Tadian, Mountain Province; Haliap Elementary School in Asipulo, Ifugao; Lubon Natinal High School in Tadian, Mountain Province and Guilayon Elementary School in Tabuk City.
Carino pointed out that the aforesaid schools are under minimal risk areas and have secured the concurrence of the concerned local government units aside from accomplishing their School Safety Assessment Tool.
The education official claimed that no schools in Baguio city and Apayao were included because the said areas are still under high risk and that the local governments were not able to give their consent for the implementation of the minimal face to face learning.
In the elementary level, those that will be allowed to participate in the pilot test of the limited face to face learning are from kindergarten to Grade III while the senior high school students that are allowed to join the limited face to face classes are those enrolled in the technology and livelihood track.
Under the guidelines of the pilot test of the limited face to face classes, all teachers must be fully vaccinated and that the capacity of the classroom will be dependent on the enrolled population to ensure their compliance to the observance of physical distancing among the pupils and students.
However, the installation of plastic barriers will not be mandatory as even the health department stated in its memorandum that the use of plastic barriers is encouraged.
Education officials are optimistic that there will be more elementary and secondary schools from the different cities and provinces that will participate in the pilot test of the limited face to face classes by next year where there will be more pupils and students who will be joining the same to allow the gradual and safe resumption of face to face classes by next school year.
(Photo courtesy of DepEd CAR Dalit NHS)
