BACOLOD CITY - Some 24 schools in various levels under the Department of Education Schools Division Office of Negros Occidental (DepEd-NegOcc) are holding limited face-to-face classes while 13 others approved this week will follow suit. Ian Arnold Arnaez, DepEd-NegOcc information officer, said on Thursday those approved on April 5 are expected to start in-campus classes after the Holy Week. At least 12 more schools have signified their intent to implement in-person classes and their applications are now being validated, he added. Those with limited face-to-face classes are Valladolid National High School-Senior High School and Aguntilang Elementary School, which were the initial two selected in the pilot last December. Arnaez said the DepEd uses the school safety assessment tool to determine the readiness of the school for the limited face-to-face classes. Schools eligible to participate in the in-person classes are those in minimal-risk areas based on criteria set by the Department of
BACOLOD CITY - The Department of Education Division of Negros Occidental (DepEd-NegOcc) has sided with the principal of Negros Occidental High School (NOHS) who refused entry to 13 personnel still unvaccinated against coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) on Tuesday. Ian Arnold Arnaez, information officer of DepEd-NegOcc, told the Philippine News Agency (PNA) on Wednesday the incident transpired during the first day when a 100 percent on-site workforce was already allowed since this city, where the NOHS campus is based, is now under Alert Level 1. The 13 individuals include nine teachers and four non-teaching personnel. In a statement, the DepEd-NegOcc said it recognizes the effort of NOHS principal Josette Terora in strictly implementing the DepEd Task Force Covid-19 Memorandum 575 dated December 7, 2021. "DepEd-NegOcc firmly believes that Ms. Terora's decision to deny admittance to the 13 unvaccinated personnel was solely based on the DepEd policy, and not on any willful desir