OPENING of classes in Benguet will push through on August 24.
But new learning methods will be applied in the province, as face-to-face classes will still be prohibited.
The Department of Education (DepEd) in the province said the learning continuity program, including self-learning modules, will be available in the print and digital format.
Benilda Daytaca, DepEd Benguet schools division superintendent, said printing of modules is 50 to 75 percent complete for the first and second week in each subject per grade level.
With duplicator machines and photocopiers earlier committed by the local government units still under procurement, she added schools are utilizing printers to produce the learning modules while DepEd pledged to provide ink for the printing of the learning modules.
For the conduct of pilot testing for the new learning delivery methods, Daytaca said all 422 schools conducted pilot testing with a remaining five schools yet to conduct pilot testing.
Pilot testing seeks to determine readiness of the teaching personnel in the delivery of new learning methods.
The face-to-face learning, according to the department, is eyed on January 2021 but can only allow 10 in a class to comply with health protocols for Covid-19.
Meanwhile, she said DepEd-Benguet surpassed 100 percent of its target for the school year 2020-2021 with data showing 81,241 students enrolled in public schools compared to the 78,450 enrollees in the previous school year.
Daytaca said the department will still determine whether the number of enrollees will increase as a result of more student transferees from private schools.
Data show that private school enrollees are pegged at 12,085 this year compared to the 17,094 total enrollees in the previous year.