BALANGA CITY – Six public schools in Bataan have started holding limited face-to-face classes.
According to a report from the Philippine Information Agency (PIA)-Bataan, chosen to serve as pilot areas are Legua Elementary School in Orani; Paysawan Elementary School and Binuangan Elementary School in Bagac; Sto. Niño Biaan Elementary School and Biaan Aeta Integrated School in Mariveles; and Saba Elementary School in Hermosa.
According to Department of Education (DepEd) Bataan Assistant Schools Division Superintendent Roland Fronda, about 689 students from Kinder to Grade 3 are expected to participate in the reopening of classes in such schools.
The students, he said, have an attendance schedule to maintain physical and social distancing. DepEd continues to liaise with local governments regarding compliance with existing health protocols.
Fronda added that the DepEd are asking parents to re-entrust their children to schools and teachers because the longer they are out of school, the longer they are not focused on their studies.
He also called on parents to return their children to school and for teachers to fulfill their mandate to help children get quality education.
Conducting limited face to face classes in basic education is now permitted in areas under Alert Level 2.
Bataan and all provinces in Central Luzon are on Alert Level 2 until the end of February.
Among the criteria to allow a school is to have no active case of COVID-19 in the covered barangay within 28 days and to have local government approval.