By Dominique Gabriel G. Bañaga

The Department of Education (DepEd) in Negros Occidental yesterday said schools located in the southern part of the province may be allowed to observe blended learning during the school year (SY) 2022-2023.

Some schools in southern Negros Occidental had yet to be repaired after being damaged by Super Typhoon “Odette” in December of last year.

DepEd-Negros Occidental spokesperson Ian Arnold Arnaez said they are currently awaiting the official order from the DepEd central office.

Arnaez said the provincial government has recently asked for data from the DepEd provincial office of the schools heavily hit by calamities.

The provincial government may release the budget for repair from the Special Education Fund or from other sources to repair damaged equipment and facilities.

Arnaez added that it is not specified in the DepEd Memorandum No. 34,  covering SY 2022-2023, if the implementation of the School Safety Assessment Tool (SSAT) is still mandated as schools are still required to conduct a personal assessment of their capacity to conduct face-to-face classes.

A total of 580 schools in Negros Occidental are expected to open on August 22.

DepEd announced that face-to-face classes will start on November 2 this year.

Blended learning, meanwhile, will still be observed from August to October./DGB, WDJ