The Schools Division of Iloilo City is eyeing to open the limited face-to-face classes in all 66 public elementary and secondary schools here come next school year from the current four schools with 720 learners.

Initially, the Donato Pison Sr. Memorial School with 221 learners, Tabucan Elementary School (ES) with 186, and Jalandoni Memorial National High School (MNHS) with 97 learners started their limited face-to-face classes on May 16 while the Navais-Borres ES with 216 learners kicked off the limited F2F classes on June 6.

Assistant Schools Division Superintendent Dannie Clark Uguil said on Thursday, June 9, six other schools are ready but opted to start next school year since classes will already end by June 24.

These included the Hibao-ao ES, in Mandurriao; RG Hechanova Memorial NHS, Tiu Cho Teg-Ana Ros Foundation Integrated Farm School, and Angela A. Celis Memorial School in the Jaro district; and the Sto Niño Sur ES, and Abeto Elementary School in Sooc, Arevalo district.

“More or less they can already start this school opening. However, we are also preparing all schools because our target is all 66 public schools will open limited face-to-face by the new school year,” he said.

Uguil said classes are only held in the morning since the whole afternoon is allotted for disinfection and preparation for the next day’s classes.

Other activities that are not tackled in the classrooms are supported by modules or activity sheets, he added.

“Our first week focused on literacy and numeracy, social skills and psycho-social support. There are learners who are fast learners while others need remediation. Teachers have to double their efforts but they are coping,” he said.

From Kindergarten to Grade 3, only 12 learners are allowed per session while a maximum of 20 pupils are allowed for Grade 4 to 6.

Uguil added that while vaccination is not a requirement for face-to-face classes, 94 percent of the 720 learners are inoculated with the COVID-19 vaccine.

Meantime, the city government that has been supporting the resumption of face-to-face classes is planning to bring pediatric vaccination to schools to reach more learners.

Data from the City Health Office (CHO) showed that 21.55 percent or 13, 331 of the 61,872 target for children 5 to 11 years old and 94.93 percent or 49, 956 of the 52,622 target for 12 to 17 years old are already fully vaccinated.

“Once they go to school, I think we will work with the school so that we can do the vaccination in the school,” said Iloilo City Mayor Jerry P. Treñas in a June 6 press conference.

The mayor is worried that the level of education before the pandemic was “not so good”.

“How much more now that modules are being and answered by mothers and online? We really have to go back to face-to-face,” he said.PNA