37 more schools startF2Fclasses

At least 37 more public elementary and high schools in Cebu City will return to face-to-face classes by the end of May.

They have been issued a safety seal by the Department of Health (DOH) and Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF), a requirement before a school can hold in-person classes.

Based on the list from the Department of Education (DepEd), the 37 include City Central School, Pit-os National High School, Hipodoromo Elementary School, Hipodromo National High School, Abellana National School, Lahug Elementary School, Lahug National High School, Mabolo Elementary School, Mabolo National High School, Tejero Elementary School, Tejero National High School, Zapatera Elementary School, Zapatera National High School, Camp Lapu-Lapu Elementary School, Barrio Luz National High School, Apas National High School, San Jose Elementary School, Budlaan Intergrated School, Talamaban Elementary School, Basak Community Elementary School First High School for the Hearing Impaired, Bonbon Elementary School Bonbon National High School, and Pasil Elementary School.

Also in the list are Mambaling National High School, Oprra National High School, Labangon Elementary School, Punta Princesa Elementary School, Cebu City National Science High School, Banawa Elementary School, Babag Integrated School, Sudlon Elementary School, Sudlon National High School, Sawang Calero Elementary School, Tagbao Elementary School, San Nicolas Elementary School, and Don Carlos Gothong Memorial National High School.

Thirteen schools in the city have already resumed limited face-to-face classes on May 18.

Because in-person classes are limited, only about 20 to 25 high schools students can return to each school while only about 15 elementary students can go to campus.

Priority is given to students who are vaccinated against COVID-19.

Dr. Rhea Mar Angtus, DepEd Cebu City School’s Division Superintendent, said earlier that the face-to-face classes are “diagnostic” in nature, which would allow DepEd to identify the pros and cons, challenges, and areas for improvement so that schools can prepare fully once full-blown in-campus classes return in August.

“Ang atong gibuhat karon, diagnostic ni siya, meaning, we will try to find out unsay mo-surface nga problema aron inig face-to-face na gyud, ato na siyang masulbad,” Angtud said.

This diagnostic period will run for two weeks but schools are given the authority to extend to allow the best assessment.

Teachers in the 37 schools have undergone training on how to go about the face-to-face classes. There will be days when there are no face-to-face classes so that teachers can continue with other teaching modalities such as distributing modules to students who are not part of in-person classes.

Only schools situated in barangays with no COVID cases in recent months are allowed inperson classes.

Meanwhile, the national high school in neighboring Talisay City also received the go signal to start face-to-face classes next week.

The school’s principal, Eamon Alido, said only 138 of their 5,000 students will participate in inperson classes, for now. They will add 50 students every week thereafter.

Most of the students in the school are residents of Barangays Poblacion and Dumlog, and neighboring barangays.

He said they have conducted a dry run, psychological first aid, and mental monitoring to ensure both teachers and students are prepared for the changes in the school environment.

He assured that all health protocols are in place and will be followed religiously so that the school will continue to be safe from COVID-19 during face-to-face classes.