A TOTAL of 898 students took part in the pilot implementation of limited face-to-face classes as 17 public schools and 2 private schools opened their doors anew to their returning learners starting November 15, 2021.
Seven public schools in Zambales, all of which are mountain schools, were included in the first batch of public schools in the country which have reopened as the Department of Education proceeded with the pilot implementation on November 15. These schools, located in the municipality of Botolan, are Belbel Elementary School, Burgos Elementary School, Maguisguis Elementary School, Moraza Elementary School, Owaog-Nebloc Elementary School, Nacolcol Integrated School, and Palis Integrated School.
Meanwhile, three schools in Zambales, which San Marcelino National High School and Baliwet Elementary School located in San Marcelino, and Banawen Elementary School located in San Felipe, Zambales initially included in the first batch, postponed their opening due to some teachers found to be positive in the antigen test. They have proceeded with the opening on November 22 after said teachers got negative RT-PCR results.
Assistant Secretary for the National Academy of Sports and Field Operations Malcolm Garma highlighted that one of the important aspects of risk assessment is the strict adherence and enforcement of guidelines in ensuring the safety of learners and other personnel in the participating pilot schools’ operations.
“[Bagaman may mga nakapag-ulat] na ilan po sa mga mag-aaral ay nilagnat, ibig sabihin nito ay malinaw sa atin pong mga magulang na kapag ang mga bata ay nakaranas ng ganitong sintomas -- ubo, sipon, lagnat, pananakit ng lalamunan -- hindi na po nila pinapapasok sa paaralan. I think this is one of the things which we should highlight in terms of orientation and the knowledge of parents regarding the symptoms,” Asec. Garma expressed.
On the other hand, two private schools, namely, Academica de Meridien in San Antonio, Zambales and the Mother of Good Counsel Seminary in San Fernando, Pampanga were among the private schools that reopened on November 22, 2021. The number of students who participated in the limited face-to-face classes are 10 in Academica de Meridien and 22 in the Mother of Good Counsel Seminary.
Seven additional schools in Zambales included in the second batch participated starting December 6, 2021. These are Cabatuan IS, Poonbato IS, and Villar IS in Botolan and Buhawen ES, Buhawen NHS, Dalanawan ES, and Pili ES in San Marcelino.
Regional Director May Eclar personally extended her appreciation and gratitude to the local government officials led by Zambales Governor Hermogenes Ebdane Jr. for its full support in the successful pilot implementation of limited face to face classes in the said province.
This January 10, a number of public schools in the entire Central Luzon are set to reopen for the mass expansion of limited face to face classes.