The DepEd said “starting Nov. 2, 2022, all public and private schools shall have transitioned to five days (per week) in-person classes.”
“After the said date, no school shall be allowed to implement purely distance learning or blended learning except for those that are implementing Alternative Delivery Modes (ADM),” it said.
The ADM includes homeschooling, modified in-school off-school approach, and night and open high schools that do not strictly follow the regular setup for regular classroom instruction.
The order said the conduct of face-to-face classes will be done regardless of the alert status of the areas where the schools are located.
The DepEd ordered schools to ensure that minimum health protocols, such as the wearing of face masks and the observance of physical distancing, are maintained to prevent the spread of coronavirus (Covid-19) during in-person classes.
The agency said School Year 2022-2023 will consist of 203 school days from Aug. 22, 2022 to July 7, 2023.
It said the number of school days will be solely dedicated to academics and related co-curricular activities.
“The conduct of extra-curricular activities shall be strictly prohibited,” the DepEd said.
Enrollment will begin on July 25 until the first day of classes; while Christmas break will be from Dec. 8, 2022 to Jan. 3, 2023.
“Private schools and state/local universities and colleges may implement this school calendar, provided they start classes not earlier than the first Monday of June and not later than the last day of August. Any deviation from the school calendar shall be reported to the respective Regional Offices in advance,” the DepEd order stated.
School renovations
In Mandaue City, public primary and secondary schools are only about 50 percent ready for the full implementation of face-to-face classes, said DepEd Mandaue Division Supt. Nimfa Bongo.
Bongo said City engineers are still making the program of work for each school badly damaged by Typhoon Odette (Rai) that hit Cebu on Dec. 16, 2021.
She said they will prioritize schools with totally blown roofs, specifically Umapad and Tabok 2 Elementary Schools.
She said while the repair of these schools is ongoing, DepEd Mandaue will continue to implement limited face-to-face classes and schedule shifting among students.
Only about 20 to 25 students are assigned to each classroom per batch (1st and 2nd), and they will have half-day classes each.
Bongo said they could only fully enforce full five-day face-to-face classes once the renovations of the damaged classrooms are done.
Students are also not required but encouraged to be vaccinated, said Bongo.
They are currently awaiting additional or new guidelines from the DepEd Central Office in Manila.
City Councilor Malcolm Sanchez, chairman of the committee on education, earlier said the City Government has allotted about P20 million for the local school board (LSB) to repair at least 14 public elementary schools and high schools severely damaged by the typhoon.
These are Tingub, Casili, Maguikay, Umapad, Banilad, Cabancalan II, Tabok I and II, Bakilid, and Canduman elementary schools and Labogon and Pagsabungan elementary schools and high schools.
Sanchez also called on the DepEd Central Office to give Mandaue City additional funds for the school repairs as the LSB funds are insufficient. (HIC, SunStar Philippines)