by: Kaizel B. Sanchez, Teacher II
San Pablo City Science Integrated High School
Report from Department of Education (DepEd) revealed that 48,000 public schools and 12,000 private schools in the country are able to met requirements for the face-to-face classes. Hence, on July 12, 2022 the department have released guidelines on the School Calendar and Activities for School Year 2022-2023 where resumption of 5 days in-person classes will be conducted starting November 2, 2022. The guidelines released was signed by the Vice President and Education Secretary Sara Duterte. it was mentioned that no schools shall be implementing pure distance learning or blended learning for those implementing Alternative Delivery Modes as stipulated in the Policy Guidelines on the K to 12 Basic Education Program (DO 21, s. 2019) and Revised Policy Guidelines on Homeschooling Program (DO 01, s. 2022). However, on October 17, 2022 the DepEd issued an amendment on the DO 34, s. 2022 where privates schools are allowed to offer blended and full distance learning to their students. While all public schools are mandated to implement the five-days in-person classes n November 2, 2022.
Of the many schools in the Philippines that followed DepEd’s mandate, San Pablo City Science Integrated High School is one of the few schools that reopened and started full in-person classes last November 7, 2022 due to class suspension after the lashing of the typhoon Paeng in CALABARZON, Bicol Region and Mindanao area. However, SPCSIHS are 100% ready to welcome the students after two years since the pandemic started in March 2020. The school, Division of San Pablo City and public schools nationwide ensures the safety of all the learners and school staffs. Among the preparations made was the close monitoring of the students who will exhibit flu-like symptoms, when students or teachers need to show their entire face or remove their face masks for their activities they may use face shields instead, and social distancing should be practiced at all times. SPCSIHS has 492 enrolled Junior High School and 358 Senior High School students, among these numbers, a total of 82% are recorded vaccinated as of October 2022.Despite the DepEd “no discrimination” policy on the students who are not yet vaccinated, they are still encouraged to take vaccine so that they will be more protected against the virus. Also, the Department of Education (DepEd) issued an order discourages the conduct of extracurricular activities. DepEd highly instructed that all school days shall be solely dedicated to academics and co-curricular activities.
These are precautionary measures and guidelines being followed nationwide so that the transition from blended learning to in-person classes will be executed effectively. Despite the fear of many because of the pandemic, the Division of San Pablo City is confident and support the DepEd’s hope for the Filipino students to have a quality of education they deserve.
