Some twenty-eight public elementary and high schools in the city are now gearing up for the conduct of limited face-to-face classes as part of the ongoing transition to the new normal.
Mary Jane Malihod, Education Program Supervisor of the City Schools Division of the Department of Education, reported that of this number of schools that are ready for the limited face-to-face classes, 2 elementary schools, Gibraltar Elementary School and the Sto. Tomas Elementary School, already started this modality last March 7, 2022.
For the 26 other schools composed of 19 elementary and 9 high schools, she further reported the compliance of the said schools to the School Safety Assessment Tool (SSAT) is still subject to validation and simulation to ensure the smooth resumption of face-to-face classes from kindergarten to Grade 6.
The education program supervisor stipulated that the schools that are ready for the limited face-to-face classes might start holding classes within the next several days after the completion of the validation, simulation and orientation of the students who will be allowed to participate in the in-person classes.
According to her, students allowed to attend the limited face to face classes are those who can present their respective parents consent or waiver, while others will continue to participate in the ongoing blended learning.
Malihod disclosed that under the existing guidelines, students will only be allowed to stay in the schools for a maximum of 4.5 hours that is why students who will be joining the limited face-to-face classes are divided into batches to ensure compliance to physical distancing.
Upon arrival in the school compound, the students will undergo the usual triaging in the triage center within the school compound before proceeding to their assigned classrooms.
While inside the classrooms, students will be allowed to eat their food and drink water with the supervision of the teachers as part of the health and safety protocols prescribed for the implementation of the limited face to face learning.
Malihod emphasized there are designated areas in the school premises where parents and guardians will be allowed to wait for the dismissal of their children from their classes to bring them home immediately to prevent them from loitering in the school as this is not allowed by the existing regulations.
Further, the schools have been mandated to put in place directional signs to guide students and teachers in going to and out of their classrooms and the school compound to ensure there will only be a single entrance and a single exit for the orderly movement of people in the school premises during the resumption of the limited face-to-face classes.
She explained that the conduct of the orientation and simulation among the students joining the limited face-to-face classes is to ensure the children will already know their new classrooms. (Dexter A. See)