School in Tabuk City, only one in CAR for Pilot Face-to-Face classes

Tabuk City, Kalinga - Based on DepEd Memo No. 071, S. 2021, 120 schools in the country have been permitted to conduct pilot face-to-face classes and, on this list, no school was included in the Cordillera region.

Recently, however, DepEd-CAR Regional Director Dr Estela Leon- Carino visited San Pablo Integrated School in Lacnog West, Tabuk City (an elementary school), Kalinga, for validation and inspection of installed facilities needed for the face-to-face classes.

According to the Regional Director, as stated by Bombo Radyo Baguio, she said that the school was able to comply with all the requirements mandated by the National IATF.

Ms. Concepcion Olyaon, the school head of San Pablo IS, explained that their preparation started during the opening of the school in August through the Brigada Eskwela program, in which consultations were made with the barangay officials, stakeholders, the parents, and the community.

“Nagikabkabil kami ti cubicles ti every classroom… and then dagiti contingency plan, dagiti assessments tools ti school… im-provide mi amin dagiti provisions iti alcohol, dagiti washing facilities, dagidiay floor markings, and signages…”

When asked how she felt about the inclusion of San Pablo Integrated School on the list of selected schools for pilot face-to-face classes, she said, “I am very happy, pagyamanak dagiti stakeholders nga timmultulong, dagiti teachers nga nabanbannug, ket pirmi ah ti ragsak ko, ta as a leader, ket maipakita ti panagkaykaysa iti ili, haan laeng ti teachers ken parents kundi the whole community, and then the barangay officials with the assistance of the Schools Division of Tabuk City.”

It can be recalled that DepEd announced that the start of pilot face-to-face classes, through a blended learning approach, is on Monday, November 15, 2021, and Ms. Olyaon happily expressed that the school is ready and prepared for the said pilot testing. The combination of face-to-face and modular distance learning will have its initial run until December 22, 2021, and will end on January 31, 2022.

Evaluation of the pilot study will be conducted in February and identification of other schools for expansion of the face-to-face classes, an inspection of sites, and presentation of reports to President Rodrigo Duterte will follow soon after.

Requirements for the inclusion of the pilot testing

To be included on the list for the pilot testing, the school should be located in a minimal-risk area based on the criteria set by the Department of Health (DOH), has passed the safety assessment using the school safety assessment tool of DepEd, and has the support of the local government unit in the form of a resolution or letter of support.

School personnel who will be allowed to hold the physical classes should be 65 years old and below, with no diagnosed comorbidities. They must also be vaccinated against COVID-19.

On the other hand, participating students should be voluntary and have a written consent from their parents or guardians and must not have any comorbidities as well.

In addition, on class size, only a maximum of 12 students for kindergarten, 16 students for grades 1 to 3, 20 learners for senior high school in a classroom, and 12 learners for senior high school in technical-vocational-livelihood workshops or science laboratories will be allowed.

The students will stay for four hours and 30 minutes in school, except for kindergarten students who will only stay for only three hours.

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