Three private schools in Western Visayas have qualified to join the pilot implementation of the limited face-to-face classes for private schools tentatively set to begin on Nov. 22.

Department of Education (DepEd) information officer Hernani Escullar Jr. said on Thursday the St. Anthony’s College (SAC) in San Jose de Buenavista, Antique; Gamot Cogon Waldorf School in Barangay Libongcogon, Zarraga and Oxmont Memorial Academy in Barangay Dalid, Calinog both in Iloilo province have met the requirements to join the pilot face-to-face classes for private schools.

“They are prepared because they have passed the criteria for our school safety assessment,” he said.

Before they were chosen, he said they need to pass the school safety assessment tool of DepEd that includes management schools’ operations, indicators for teaching and learning, well-being and protection, and home-school learning.

The schools were also able to secure the support of their local government units (LGUs).

“We are dealing with lives. And the control of the spread of Covid-19 (coronavirus disease 2019) is with the local government unit and the Department of Health. So if they wanted to participate in the face-to-face class, they need to secure the concurrence of their LGU,” Escullar added.

While waiting for the DepEd central office to release the specific guidelines for private schools, he said that they will initially follow those for public schools as per information from the Quality Planning and Research Division, which means that the covered grades will be from Kindergarten to Grade 3.

Meanwhile, he said that all health protocols were in place and followed by public schools in the region that have implemented the limited face-to-face classes since Nov. 15.

In Laserna Integrated School in Nabas, Aklan, the learners have to pass through a foot bath, wash their hands and check temperatures using a non-contact thermometer before entering their classrooms.

Their seats inside their classrooms have plastic barriers and they prohibited to roam.

After their classes, they leave their rooms individually to proceed to the school’s designated exit area.

The Igsoro Integrated School, which is situated in a remote part of the municipality of Bugasong in Antique, has tapped the assistance of barangay tanod (village security) to check the vaccination cards of visitors arriving at the school and implemented a QR code to track their learners.

“They made use of technology despite their area being in a mountainous area,” Escullar added. (PNA)