DepEd: 97.5% of public schools nationwide have resumed full face-to-face classes

The Department of Education (DepEd) said Monday that 97.5% of public schools all over the country have resumed the implementation of the five-day face-to-face classes.

DepEd spokesperson Atty. Michael Poa said that 2.36% of public schools have also been allowed so far to conduct blended learning. Some of these schools, he emphasized, were affected by the onslaught of Severe Tropical Storm Paeng (international name: Nalgae).

Since November 2, all public schools have been mandated to return to full in-person classes, except those that were granted exemptions.

Private schools, on the other hand, may continue holding either five-day face-to-face classes, a blended learning modality, or full distance learning.

“Nakita naman po natin na naging maayos naman po ang pagre-resume natin ng classes. Wala naman tayong major incidents, although siyempre meron pa rin tayong affected schools dahil sa Typhoon Paeng,” Poa said in a press conference.

(We saw that the resumption of classes went well. We don't have any major incidents, although of course, we still have affected schools due to Typhoon Paeng.)

At least 324 schools sustained infrastructure damage due to Severe Tropical Storm Paeng.

There were also 435 schools nationwide that were still being used as evacuation centers. Poa said DepEd is now coordinating with the local government units to have these schools decamped as soon as possible. 

“Nakapag-download naman tayo ng [we have downloaded] cleanup funds, as well as funds for the necessary TLS (temporary learning spaces) that we have to put up in these areas,” he said.

The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) reported Monday that 951 evacuation centers currently cater to 108,791 displaced individuals or 27,001 families, while 920,586 people or 326,456 families were staying outside of evacuation centers.

Paeng’s estimated cost of damage to infrastructure has also reached P4,512,696,137.88 in Regions 1, 2, 3, 4-A, 4-B, 5, 6, 7, 10, 11, 12, and the Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR). —KG, GMA Integrated News