The Department of Education in Region 7 (DepEd 7) said around 1.9 million students have enrolled for the current school year following the transfer of several private school students to public schools.
DepEd 7 Dir. Salustiano Jimenez said the region’s total enrollment has increased, but the enrollees of private schools decreased.
The regional office said they have a sufficient number of teachers, and they are ready for a possible limited implementation of face-to-face classes.
“We don’t have the approval yet, the go signal from the Office of the President or the President himself,” Jimenez said, adding that they are willing to suspend its likely implementation in case of a COVID-19 case spike.
“We submitted at first sa ating proposed pilot na limited face-to-face na more than a hundred [sites], but sinabihan tayo mula sa central office na we have to trim it down to 50… Nakapag-submit tayo ng 52,” he said.
Meanwhile, the Department of Health in the region (DOH 7) called on teachers to get vaccinated.
“Those that are eligible for vaccination, especially the people manning the school including the educators, should be fully vaccinated already,” Dr. Mary Jean Loreche said.
Of the around 80,000 teachers and non-teaching personnel of DepEd 7, over 1,000 have tested positive for COVID-19, including 10 active cases.
At least 30,000 of the employees have received their initial COVID-19 vaccine dose, while 20,000 are considered fully vaccinated. – Report from John Aroa/AG- jlo
