BACOLOD CITY, Negros Occidental, Philippines – Public schools in Negros Occidental province are 100 percent ready for the return of in-person Monday next week, 22 August 2022, education department executive Ian Arnaez said.
Arnaez, spokesperson of the Department of education provincial office, said schools will get to design their own schedules that could include shifting of classes to “ensure that every student gets a chance to go to school.”
There are 663 public schools under the DepEd province, 481 of which are elementary schools, 99 are junior high ones, and 83 senior high schools.
These schools can adopt limited in-person classes or blended learning.
He also pointed out that complying with physical distancing may be a problem as 50 or more students will need to fit inside the standard 7 by 9 meter classroom.
Lila Arro, the Education Program Supervisor of the Bacolod City Division, said 70 schools – 24 of which are high schools and 46 elementary – are also ready for classes.
She expects traffic congestion and non-compliance of health protocols as among possible problems students and teachers may face.
Her division has already approached the respective government agencies to help them lessen the school stress on the anticipated return of classes.
Free school supplies that will be sourced from the Special Education Fund or the General Education Fund will be given to Bacolod City public school students, Councilor Al Espino, chairman of the city council education committee said.
He added they plan to give them out on 2 November as the mandatory face-to-face classes will begin.
