1,764 Central Luzon schools ready to hold F2F classes

SAN FERNANDO, Pampanga, Philippines – A total of 1,764 public and private schools in Central Luzon have been allowed to conduct face-to-face classes, according to the Department of Education regional ofice.

DepEd regional director May Eclar said the schools received their  Schools Safety Assessment Tool (SSAT) compliance certificates.

“This is an indication that our schools are prepared to implement limited face-to-face classes while waiting for the concurrence of their respective local chief executives and improvement of the health conditions in their area,” Eclar said.

Regional directors are authorized to continue the implementation of limited in-person classes in pilot schools and expand them in schools validated as compliant with the standards of SSAT.

Eclar said the SSAT evaluates the readiness of schools on managing school operations, teaching and learning, wellbeing and protection and home-school coordination.

The SSATCC is valid for six months from date of issuance. It is renewable subject to continued compliance with eligibility requirements.

The SSATCC may be revoked through a valid complaint of violation of any of the minimum public health standards or if there is clustering of COVID cases in the school.

As this developed, 800 Grades 10 to 12 students attended the start of limited face-to-face classes at the Leyte National High School (LNHS) on Tuesday.

The LNHS is biggest high school institution in Eastern Visayas based on its student population of more than 9,000.

School principal Basilisa Negru said they expect more students to participate in face-to-face classes in the next few weeks.

Neru said in-person classes in other grade levels may also be conducted. – Ric Sapnu, Miriam Desacada