The Department of Education (DepEd) in Ilocos Region said 19 public schools and a private school in the region may resume limited face-to-face (F2F) classes starting February 16 as the alert status downgrades to Level 2.
In a phone interview on Tuesday, DepEd Ilocos Region Public Affairs Unit head Cesar Bucsit said these schools are in Ilocos Sur, Pangasinan, and Ilocos Norte.
“The participating students are kindergarten up to the third grade as these age groups still need close supervision by teachers and their number is still limited,” he said.
The schools have passed the different safety assessments conducted by the DepEd and the Department of Health, he added.
Bucsit said more schools in the region will start their limited F2F classes in the third week of this month but an official memorandum is yet to be released.
In a statement, DepEd Ilocos regional director Tolentino Aquino said they are working to ensure that learners, teachers, and personnel are all safe.
“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 the safety of the students and personnel of DepEd on the health side),” he said in an earlier interview. (PNA)