Editorial: Face-to-face classes have started

Editorial: Face-to-face classes have started

AFTER a year and a half, students have begun to slowly return to their classrooms, but at a limited capacity.

On November 15, some 400 students across Davao Region were welcomed back to their classrooms by their teachers and other school personnel.

The Department of Education (DepEd) has given the go signal to eight public schools in Davao de Oro and Davao del Sur to start their limited face-to-face classes. The schools in Davao del Sur are Clib Public School in Hagonoy and the Nodilla Elementary School and Tacub Elementary School in Kiblawan. The schools in Davao de Oro include Bares Elementary School (Pagsabangan Extension) in New Bataan, Parasan Integrated School in Pantukan, and Lower Panansalan Elementary School (Jacinto Extension), Maugat Elementary School, and Digaynon Integrated School in Compostela.

On November 24, DepEd-Davao Director Allan Farnazo said eight more schools will be allowed to conduct face-to-face classes. This batch will include eight public schools in Tagum City, Davao del Norte, and one private school in Davao City. While he did not name the eight schools in Tagum City, he did identify the private school in Davao City -- Faith International Academy.

However, the schools in Tagum City will start their limited face-to-face classes on December 6.

Dr. Marilum Deduyo, DepEd-Davao Assistant Schools Division superintendent, also said Davao City Mayor Sara Z. Duterte-Carpio has endorsed five schools for face-to-face classes. The schools are Dalagdag National High School with Senior High in Barangay Dalagdag, G. Tajo National High School with Senior High in Barangay Lampianao, Saloy National High School with Senior High in Barangay Saloy, Mabuhay Elementary School now Victor Bernal Integrated School with Kindergarten in Barangay Mabuhay, and Gumitan Elementary School with Kindergarten in Barangay Gumitan.

On November 29, Faith International Academy reopened its doors for its students. It becomes the first school in Davao City and private school in Davao Region to have limited face-to-face classes.

"We could tell that if we would get our students back to the classroom, the education would be better for them and their mental health," Alastair Walker, Faith International school head.

The reactions of netizens on social media were quite mixed. Some welcomed the resumption of face-to-face classes while there are also those who expressed worry over it.

Nonetheless, the reopening of classes is a big step in moving forward. It may be our "new normal" for several more months. The face-to-face classes will most likely improve the learnings of the children. It will not only benefit them but the teachers as well.

Just like most people, we also hope that schools will not become "super spreaders" of the Covid-19. With teachers vaccinated and health protocols in place, we hope this will be enough to protect the children.

Trending

No stories found.

Just in

No stories found.

Branded Content

No stories found.
SunStar Publishing Inc.
www.sunstar.com.ph