513 Central Luzon schools hold in-person classes

SAN FERNANDO, Pampanga, Philippines — From less than 100 last month, a total of 513 schools in Central Luzon conducted in-person classes as of Thursday.

Michelle Lacson, information officer of the Department of Education (DepEd) regional office, said 168 schools in Nueva Ecija, 128 in Aurora, 97 in Zambales, 61 in Bulacan, 24 in Tarlac, 22 in Pampanga 22 and 13 in Bataan resumed face-to-face classes.

Schools should be validated as compliant with the standards of School Safety Assessment Tool and should have secured concurrence from their respective local chief executives and barangay officials before conducting face-to-face classes.

Consent from parents of participating students is also needed.

Only vaccinated teachers may participate while students who have received their COVID shots are preferred.

In-person classes are allowed only in areas under Alert Levels 1 and 2.

The DepEd-Central Luzon office said it would provide guidance and technical assistance to schools which are ready to hold face-to-face classes.

Education Secretary Leonor Briones had earlier authorized regional directors to start the expansion phase of face-to-face classes in both public and private schools.