By Dominique Gabriel G. Bañaga
A total of 271,771 students in Negros Occidental are expected to return to school in all levels today.
Department of Education (DepEd) Negros Occidental Schools Division spokesperson Ian Arnold Arnaiz said the division is “all set for blended, distance learning or face-to-face (F2F) classes,” following the schemes suggested by the DepEd national office.
“The deadline for enrollment is also today, but if there are students who want to enroll later, they will still be accommodated,” he said.
In schools where there is lack of classrooms, ways have been devised to accommodate all students.
Arnaiz said it will be a must for learners who attend F2F classes to wear face masks and observe physical distancing as a precaution against COVID-19.
However, he said schools that have been heavily affected by typhoons and have more damaged facilities will have to continue with remote learning.
There are about 13,000 teachers in the Negros Occidental Schools Division.
He added that schools will get to design their own schedules that could include shifting of classes to “ensure that every student gets a chance to go to school.”
There are 663 public schools in the province — 481 of which are elementary schools, 99 are junior high schools and 83 senior high schools.
Arnaiz also pointed out that complying with physical distancing may be a problem as 50 or more students will need to fit inside the standard 7×9 meter classroom.
Meanwhile, Dr. Lila Arro, Education Program supervisor, said 70 schools — 24 high schools and 46 elementary schools — are also ready for classes for Bacolod City Schools Division.
She expects traffic congestion and non-compliance of health protocols as among possible problems students and teachers may face.
Moreover, the division has already approached the respective government agencies to help them lessen the school stress on the anticipated return of classes, Arro said.
The DepEd in Western Visayas (DepEd-6) needs 16,494 new classrooms as the school year 2022-2023 kicks off.
DepEd-6 spokesperson Hernani Escullar, Jr. said schools affected by past calamities need additional classrooms.
“There are divisions that do not need new classrooms. Most of those in need are those that were affected or damaged by past typhoons and calamities. Our affected divisions are in coordination with the regional office and government agencies like the Department of Public Works and Highways for the construction,” Escullar said.
Negros Occidental needs 9,333 classrooms; Capiz needs 5,073; Antique (737); Aklan (508); Bacolod City (462); and Iloilo province (381).
Aside from additional classrooms, 14,464 of learning spaces needed major repairs, while 13,941 needed minor repairs, and 811 for replacement or reconstruction.
Escullar also said that spaces needing replacement or reconstruction were considered no longer safe for learners.
“Those needing major and minor repairs can still be used and some could have been addressed already through the Brigada Eskwela that started on August 1,” he added.
DepEd also recently reported that the agency needed around P18 billion for the repair, rehabilitation, or reconstruction of all the schools damaged during recent calamities or disasters in the country.
On December 2021, Typhoon “Odette” destroyed 206,729 of learning materials and 166 public schools in Western Visayas, which needed P1.1 billion for their rehabilitation./DGB, WDJ
