10 Zambales schools start in-person classes

Story and Photos by JUN DUMAGUING | Botolan, Zambales

STUDENTS of selected schools in Zambales went back to their classrooms on Monday, November 15, as the Department of Education (DepEd) allowed limited face-to-face classes for schools in areas classified as low-risk for Covid-19 transmission.

The in-person classes were held for the first time here in 20 months after the Covid-19 pandemic forced schools throughout the country to conduct online classes.

Among the 100 public schools throughout the country that were chosen for the launch of in-person classes, 10 are in Zambales. Of these, seven are in the town of Botolan, two in San Marcelino, and one in San Felipe.

These are Burgos Elementary School, Owaog-Nebloc Elementary School, Moraza Elementary School, Belbel Elementary School, Maguisguis Integrated School, Nacolcol Integrated School, and Palis Integrated School, all in Botolan; San Marcelino National High School, and Baliwet Elementary School in San Marcelino; and Banawen Elementary School in San Felipe.

A teacher checks on the temperature of a student during the first day of in-face classes at Owaog-Nebloc Elementary School in Botolan, Zambales

TEMPERATURE CHECKS

At the Owaog-Nebloc Elementary School located at the upland barangay of Baytan, the classes started with a temperature check of the students, who are mostly from the Ayta tribe. This was part of the health protocols DepEd required, which included setting up areas for triage, hand-washing, and isolation.

Charles Fernan, the school’s principal, also said that all the students are given face mask upon entering school premises.

Still, only nine out of the 21 students expected to attend in-face classes from Kindergarten to Grade 3 arrived during the first day of classes, Fernan said.

This was because some had to walk from home for four hours, Fernan said. “Maybe they will be here tomorrow when their parents can bring them to school,” he added.

A student awaits instruction from her teacher during the first day of in-face classes at Owaog-Nebloc Elementary School in Botolan, Zambales

CANCELLED CLASSES

Meanwhile, the first in-face classes were cancelled in two schools in San Marcelino after seven teachers tested positive of Covid-19 in rapid antigen tests.

The teachers were supposed to conduct classes at the San Marcelino High School in Barangay Aglao and at the Baliwet Elementary School in Barangay Sta. Fe.

School officials, however, said this was only a “temporary delay” in the conduct in-face classes, as they awaited confirmatory test results for the concerned school personnel. ~

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