376 students attend pilot face-to-face classes in W. Visayas


ILOILO CITY — As COVID-19 pandemic restrictions have eased, at least 376 students attended the first day of face-to-face classes in three schools selected by the Department of Education (DepEd) in Western Visayas region.

These were 224 students at Laserna Integrated School in Nabas town, Aklan province; 89 students at Igsoro Elementary School in Bugasong town, Antique province; and 63 students at Mayabay Elementary School in Barbaza town, Antique province who attended the limited classes Monday, November 15.

A teacher and students at the pilot face-to-face classes at Laserna Integrated School in Nabas town, Aklan province. (Photo courtesy of Hernani Escular Jr./Manila Bulletin)

DepEd-6 Regional Director Ramir Uytico said that only these three schools were approved out of the 29 that were proposed for limited face-to-face classes in Western Visayas region.

“At Laserna Integrated School, there’s the clinic and isolation facility,” noted Uytico, who physically went to the school in Aklan province.

If there are students or teachers who are going to show symptoms of COVID-19, Uytico said that the schools will have a close coordination with officials both in the municipal governments or barangays (villages) in handling potential cases.

Based on DepEd-6 data, at least 49 teachers and staff of the three schools have been fully vaccinated against COVID-19 while five are awaiting their second doses.