During IEC: Classes to be suspended in some public schools

CEBU, Philippines – The Department of Education-7 has announced that classes in some public schools in cities in Cebu will be suspended during the International Eucharistic Congress (IEC) this month to mitigate traffic.

In a memorandum dated January 5, DepEd-7 Director Julieta Jeruta said the suspension is upon the instruction of DepEd Secretary Dr. Armin Luistro following a request from the Cebu Archdiocese.

Jeruta herself believes that suspending classes will help decongest traffic and would allow students to participate and witness the IEC activities.

“I believe makakatulong iyan in making IEC successful and smooth iyong traffic flow,” she said.

She clarified that not all schools are covered by the order, especially those located in upland areas. The schools that would have to suspend classes are those located near the ve-nue of IEC activities.

“The identification of these school district areas is based on the recommendation reports and evaluation from the divisions’ local government units; thus, the aforementioned school divisions are to inform their affected school district areas on this order of suspension of classes,” the memorandum reads.

Classes will be suspended in the Lapu-Lapu City Division from January 27 to 29; in Mandaue City Division from January 25 to 29, and Cebu City Division from January 25 to 30

 The IEC will take place from January 24 to 31.

To meet the required number of school days, Jeruta said the schools that would be affected would have to arrange for make-up classes.

“They will have to lay out their individual arrangements in the school divisions for the make-up classes,” she said. —/JMO (FREEMAN)