DAGUPAN CITY – Nine schools in Ilocos Norte and one in Pangasinan will participate in the pilot run of limited face-to-face (F2F) classes starting November 15 in the Ilocos Region, according to the Department of Education (DepEd).
In an online press conference on Wednesday, DepEd Ilocos Region director Dr. Tolentino Aquino said there were originally 14 schools approved for limited F2F classes in the region but upon the intensified validation, four schools have been deferred.
“Nung nagkaroon tayo ng validation, yung apat na schools ay mayroong coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) cases kaya awtomatikong inalis sa listahan (During the validation, the four schools initially included in the list logged Covid-19 cases so they were automatically removed from the list),” he said.
Based on the list, only the Longos Elementary School (ES) in Alaminos City, Pangasinan will be included for the pilot run of the F2F classes.
In Ilocos Norte, the participating schools are Alao-ao Elementary School (ES), Pagddagan ES in Bangui town; Bicbica ES, Buanga ES, and Godogod ES in Pinili town; Dumalneg ES and Dumalneg National High School in Dumalneg town; and San Isidro ES and Cacafean in Marcos town.
Aquino said the schools were approved upon the validation of the National Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases, Department of Health (DOH), and DepEd Central Office.
“Sa pagsasagawa natin ng limited face-to-face classes, tayo ay closely monitored at ginagabayan ng DOH para matiyak na on the health side, safe ang ating mga mag-aaral at mga kawani ng DepEd (In the conduct of the limited face-to-face classes, we are closely monitored and guided by the DOH to ensure safety of the students and personnel of DepEd on the health side),” he said.
Aquino said participating students are kindergarten up to the third grade.
“Base sa pag-aaral, ito ang mga mag-aaral na nangangailangan ng close supervision ng mga guro (Based on studies, these age groups still need close supervision by teachers),” he added.
Meanwhile, DepEd Ilocos medical officer Dr. Romarie Castillo said vaccinated teachers will be the priority for the teaching assignments during the limited F2F classes.
Castillo said some 18,209 teaching and non-teaching personnel of DepEd Ilocos have been fully vaccinated against Covid-19 as of October 27. (PNA)
