Speaking at the One Davao on Covid virtual presser on Tuesday (March 21) Jenielito “Dodong” Atillo, the spokesperson of DepEd Region 11 said at least 362 schools (both private and public) in the region as of March 21 have returned to face to face learning modality.
He however said the number is still a small percentage of the total 2,699 schools in the region saying schools are given the free hand to decide as to either go back to the traditional face to face classes or remain in the online mode of teaching.
“362 is still a long way to go because we don’t want to impose upon schools. We want to really make sure that their opening is based on their will and readiness,” Atillo said.
But he said the increasing number of schools which are opening every week indicates a good signal that schools are inclined to open up and live the new normal kind of education despite the still ongoing pandemic.
Atillo said schools must comply the school safety and assessment tool (SSAT), a major requirement so their application to conduct face to face classes will be approved.
SSAT means schools are not ready only on their facilities but also with their workforce and human resource in relation to their readiness to respond in case learners are infected with Covid-19 or the Omicron variant.
He confirmed that as of March 14-18 DepED 11 recorded 47 learners and a personnel who manifested symptoms of Covid-19 but did not balloon into Covid cases. He also said all of them have fully recovered.
He said the schools compliance on SSAT will be the criteria for recommendation and approval by theDepEd Central office on their application for the conduct of face to face learning.
“Schools should comply100 percent if not, we have no reason to recommend and approve the application through the DepEd regional director with the concurrence of the DepEd head,” he said.
Atillo also clarified incase a surge of Covid-19 or Omicron variant will erupt again, schools which are already on face to face classes should automatically stop and go back to online classes or modular system for public schools.
“If there is a surge again those who have started face to face classes should go back to virtual classes. This is clear, if the Alert Level goes back to Alert Level 3,automatically schools should revert back either to blended, modular or radio, and online-based,” he said.
Meanwhile, the city government has terminated the use of seven public schools as vaccination sites as the DepEd Region 11 is getting ready for the resumption of face-to-face classes in all levels in the city, Dr. Michelle Schlosser, the spokesman of the city’s COVID-19 said.
Schlosser assured the city has enough vaccination sites. “Don't worry. We will keep the vaccination sites for the 12 years old and above population. We still have the People's Park and Crocodile Park. Hopefully, the Magsaysay Park vaccination site will soon become operational,” Schlosser said.
She also said vaccination for children five to 11 years old is ongoing at the city’s malls like SM City Davao, SM Lanang Premier,Gaisano Mall Bajada, Abreeza Ayala Malls, Gaisano Mall Toril, Gaisano Mall Calinan, and Gaisano Mall Tibungco.
Department of Education Region 11 spokesperson Jenielito "Dodong" Atillo. Photo from his Facebook Page