Two public elementary schools in the city had started conducting limited face-to-face classes on March 7 while 26 primary and secondary schools are getting ready to reopen as the city transitions to the new normal two years after the pandemic started.
The Department of Education Baguio Schools Division under Superintendent Federico Martin said Sto. Tomas and Gibraltar elementary schools were granted the authority on limited face-to-face learning after satisfying the requirements under the department’s School Safety Assessment Tool (SSAT).
Martin said that among the public schools undergoing orientations and simulations are Sto. Tomas National High School-Senior High School-Technical-Vocational-Livelihood (TVL), Mil-an NHS (TVL), Happy Hallow Elementary School (ES), Spring Hills ES, and Alfonso Tabora ES.
Among the schools that passed the SSAT as of March 6 as validated by the composite team and recommended to the DepEd city and regional offices were Fairview ES, Kias ES, Baguio Central School, Baguio City National High School, Baguio City Science HS (Stand Alone), Pines City NHS, Doña Aurora H. Bueno ES, Manuel A. Roxas ES and Quezon Hill ES.
Public School District Supervisor Jayrerose Gueverra, Education Program Supervisor Mary Jane Malihod and Medical Officer IV Mary Libeney Sito said validation is ongoing for other public elementary and high schools and will also begin soon for private schools.
The validations aim to assess the schools’ level of preparedness based on the SSAT requirements which include the presence of isolation room, health protocols, class schedules, contingency plan and a barangay resolution.
For higher education institutions (HEIs), the University of the Cordilleras announced that it opened face-to-face classes for students taking up Engineering Laboratory and on-the-job training courses last March 7.
Face-to-face sessions had long begun for medical courses in the various colleges and universities.
Inspections are ongoing for other courses in Saint Louis University and University of Baguio and Baguio Central University.
So far, UB Criminology, Engineering and Architecture, Hospitality and Tourism programs; SLU Engineering programs; and BCU OJT and internship program in Business Administration and Criminology programs completed the inspection requirement and were given recommendation by the City Health Services Office.
The requirements for HEIs are letter of support from the city government before proceeding to the Commission on Higher Education; submission of a letter of intent to CHED detailing when face-to-face will open, the number of students expected, and the courses, affidavit of undertaking; and school facilities inspection by the CHSO.
For review/tutorial centers and ESL schools, those under the Technical Education Skills Development Authority, must comply with the Tesda guidelines and others not under Tesda must comply with the city’s requirements that personnel and attendees must be fully vaccinated and establishments must secure safety seal certifications. – Aileen P. Refuerzo
April 20, 2024
