Maaari nang magsuspindi ng klase ang mga regional offices (RO) at school division offices (SDO) ng Department of Education (DepEd) ngayong panahong patuloy na tumataas ang bilang ng mga bagong kaso ng coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).
“Given the varying health situations in different areas, the ROs/SDOs are given the option, based on their reliable assessment of the health status of their teachers and learners and the IATF risk classification, to declare suspension of classes within the month of January 2022,” ang bahagi ng memorandum ng DepEd na may petsang Enero 12, 2022 at pirmado niDepEd Undersecretary for Curriculum and Instruction Diosdado San Antonio.
Ipinaliwanag ng opisyal, ang mga regional at division offices ay maaari ring magdesisyon kung gaano katagal ang ipatutupad na class suspension, gayunman, hindi dapat na lalampas ng dalawang linggo.
Dapat ding magsagawa ng kaukulang adjustments sa school calendar upang matiyak na ang bilang ng mga araw ng klase sa kasalukuyang school year ay saklaw pa rin ng minimum na 220 days.
9-anyos na bata, patay matapos makuryente ng tinatayang 20 minuto
Ang mga pribadong paaralan naman aniya ay maaaring magpatupad ng kahalintulad na direktiba kung mataas din ang COVID-19 risks sa kani-kanilang paaralan.
“During the suspension of classes, all synchronous and asynchronous classes shall be put on hold while submission of academic requirements and conduct of other teaching- related activities must be moved to a later date. For late submission of requirements, accommodations must be afforded for those with valid reasons,” pahayag pa ni San Antonio.
Hinikayat din nito ang lahat ng DepEd personnel, mga guro at mga mag-aaral na maging mapagmatyag, pairalin ang health at safety protocols at sundin ang mga guidelines ng Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF).
“Everyone is also enjoined to pray for the immediate and complete recovery of those who have contracted COVID-19 and other similar illnesses,” aniya.
Ipinalabas ng DepEd ang naturang direktiba kasunod ng panawagan ng Alliance of Concerned Teachers (ACT) nitong Martes na dapat na magpatupad ng dalawang linggong health break dahil mahigit 50% ng mga guro sa Metro Manila ay dumaranas ng flu-like symptoms.
Mary Ann Santiago
