Salustiano Jimenez, director of the Department of Education in Central Visayas (DepEd 7), told SunStar Cebu that more than 75 percent or around 3,653 schools in the region were already given safety seals as of Friday, May 27, 2022.
Jimenez said less than 200 of these were private schools.
Central Visayas has about 3,000 public schools in 20 divisions while there are about 1,000 private schools.
On Monday, May 30, City Central School in Cebu City was seen starting limited face-to-face classes for kindergarten and elementary school students.
Cebu City Schools Division Superintendent Dr. Rhea Mar Angtud said 16 schools started limited face-to-face classes in Cebu City on May 13, followed by 39 more on Monday, with another 58 schools set to begin face-to-face classes next Monday, June 6.
Outside of Cebu City, Jimenez said nearly 100 percent of the schools in the other local government units (LGUs) in Cebu were already implementing this form of classes and even started the progressive expansion in the basic education or K-12.
Jimenez disclosed that simulation or dry runs of the limited face-to-face classes were being conducted in most of the schools in the region awarded safety seals, in preparation for the next school year 2022-2023, which is expected to open in August.
But the regional director said they may still implement the limited face-to-face classes by the first quarter of the next school year.
“We will still be implementing the blended type of learning because we cannot be certain of what will happen in the future,” he said, referring to eventualities such as developments in the coronavirus disease (Covid-19) pandemic.
Jimenez reiterated that joining the limited face-to-face classes is not compulsory, citing this as a shared responsibility decided and approved by the parents, schools and the concerned LGUs.
“It’s not compulsory. It’s still voluntary because we cannot force them,” he said, adding that they will not push through with the limited face-to-face classes if one of the three stakeholders will not agree.
He said forcing them to join the limited face-to-face classes may only create another issue such as mental health, particularly for students and parents who are still afraid of getting infected with Covid-19.
The regional director, however, is still optimistic that parents will change their mind and eventually allow their children to join the limited face-to-face classes amid the ongoing simulations or dry runs.
Jimenez also reiterated that students can join this form of classes regardless of their Covid-19 vaccination status.
“For learners, vaccination is not required although we strongly encouraged that parents have their children vaccinated or inoculated,” he said.