ILOILO – Hand washing zones. Sanitized classrooms. Masked instructors.
These greeted learners in two private schools in this province on the first day of the pilot implementation of limited face-to-face (F2F) classes.
Yesterday, the Gamot Cogon Waldorf School in Zarraga towns and Oxmont Memorial Academy in Calinog welcomed kids.
“Matawhay kag wala sang problema ang aton first day,” said Hernani Escullar Jr., information officer of the Department of Education (DepEd) Region 6.
He particularly cited how the schools ensured that coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) health protocols were put in place, especially social distancing.
Here’s the breakdown of learners per grade level:
* Gamot Cogon Waldorf School – Grade 1 (20), Grade 2 (20) and Grade 3 (22)
* Oxmont Memorial Academy – Kinder – (10), Grade 1 (11), Grade 2 (12), and Grade 3 (16)
According to Escullar, there are no guidelines yet as to the conduct of F2F classes in other grade levels.
The St. Anthony’s College in Antique was also given by the DepEd the go signal to resume F2F classes, but they planned on piloting it on Grade 6 to Grade 10 students.
“Ang allowed subong Kinder to Grade 3 lang,” said Escullar.
How were the three schools selected?
Escullar explained that by the time the central office announced it would now be possible to accept applications from private schools to hold F2F classes, DepEd-6 director Ramir Uytico issued a memorandum to all schools district offices.
Initially, five private schools in Western Visayas expressed intent (one in Antique and four in Iloilo), but the only ones shortlisted were the three schools.
Last week, three schools also kicked off F2F classes – the Laserna Integrated School (Nabas, Aklan), Mayabay Primary School (Barbaza, Antique) and the Igsoro Integrated School (Bugasong, Antique).
The classes went smoothly, according to Escullar./PN
