BY GILBERT P. BAYORAN
The Department of Education in Negros Occidental is still validating preparations of public schools for face-to-face classes in all levels by November this year, its public relations officer, Ian Arnold Arnaiz, said yesterday.
School year 2022-2023 will start on August 22 and will end on July 7, 2023, DepEd announced yesterday.
Face-to-face classes will start November 2, according to Education Secretary Sara Duterte
Arnaiz said the transition to face-to-face classes will start from Aug. 22 until October 31.
“We are hoping that before the opening of the next school year we can validate 100 percent of all the schools under the division. If they are approved, we can open all schools for face-to-face classes,” Arnaiz said.
There were 52 schools under Negros Occidental Division that have limited face-to-face classes.
“As to whether all students in Negros Occidental can go to school when classes open on August, we still have schools affected by Typhoon Odette last December so there are still many schools that need to be repaired,” he pointed out.
There are 481 elementary schools and 100 high schools under the DepEd – Negros Occidental Division.
Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson said he is scheduled to meet with DepEd Negros Occidental Division to assess if the planned resumption of face-to-face classes in all levels by November in Negros Occidental is “possible.”
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. encouraged local government units to conduct large-scale immunization drives to deliver booster shots targeting school children in order to safely resume face-to-face classes and fully reopen the economy.*
