DepEd must include more schools from Covid-free areas in face-to-face classes – Chiz Escudero observes

Sorsogon Gov. Chiz Escudero on Thursday expressed hope that the pilot run of the limited face-to-face classes permitted by the Department of Education (DepEd) starting November 15 will be expanded to include more schools located in COVID-free areas, as the public health crisis continues to improve across the country.

At the same time, the former senator thanked DepEd for including Buenavista Elementary School in Sorsogon City’s Bacon District among the 100 elementary schools selected for the nationwide pilot run.

“Kami sa lalawigan ng Sorsogon ay nagpapasalamat sa DepEd pagkakasama ng isa nating paaralan para sa pilot run ng limited face-to-face learning. I hope they could eventually expand the list and include more schools from Sorsogon,” Escudero said.

“Matagal ko nang panawagan sa IATF at sa DepEd na sana ay mas palawakin pa ang limited classes na ito. Katulad sa amin dito sa Sorsogon, mahigit 50 porsyento ng barangays ay hindi naman apektado ng COVID-19. Pwedeng magklase subject to rigid health protocols,” Escudero pointed out.

President Rodrigo Duterte has already given the go signal to allow more schools to join the pilot run and the DepEd has urged schools nationwide to start conducting self-assessment in preparation for its expansion phase.

The Sorsogon Provincial Information Office (SPIO) reported to the Governor that the opening of the pilot classes Monday morning went smoothly with the attendance of 10 pupils each for Grades one to three.

The SPIO also provided the former senator with several photos of the resumption of face-to-face class after almost two years when the pandemic hit the country in March 2020.

“Ang nasabing pilot face-to-face classes sa nag-iisang elementary school sa lalawigan ay pinaghandaan ng mga magulang at mga guro sa pamamagitan ng pagpapabakuna at patuloy na pagsunod sa standard health protocols na ipinapatupad ng local na pamahalaan, DOH at IATF,” the SPIO reported.

It added that some 180 students from Grades one to six will go to school on rotation basis.

Aside from the 100 public schools, there are 20 private schools that will participate in the pilot run beginning November 22.