IN PHOTOS: Opening of limited face-to-face classes in the Philippines

The Philippines on Monday, November 15, became the last country in the world to open classroom doors to students since the coronavirus pandemic began.

It was a momentous day for young schoolchildren since Philippine pandemic restrictions kept minors locked up for almost two years and adapted to distance learning. The country only recently began vaccinating minors against COVID-19, but only those aged 12 to 17 with co-morbidities.

With careful planning by the Department of Education (DepEd), new normal schooling looked just like we’d expect it to during a pandemic. Kids could not simply run to their classrooms and embrace their friends.

Students wore masks and an ID with a QR code for contact tracing, and got their temperature checked. They washed their hands before entering their classrooms, and also had to keep their distance from their classmates.

The DepEd, so far, has approved 100 public schools to participate in the pilot run. Thirty private schools will follow suit next Monday, November 22.

Calbayog City face to face classes preparation — PREPARATION. Plastic barriers are set up on students’ desks in a classroom at the Clarencio Calagos Memorial School Foundation in Sta. Margarita, Samar, in preparation for face-to-face classes.

PLANS. The Ricardo P. Cruz Elementary School in Lower Taguig conducts a presentation on how it will run its face-to-face classes before officials of the committee on education of the Taguig City government on November 3, 2021.

LOOK: Students arrive for the pilot run of limited face-to-face classes in Laserna Integrated School at Nabas, Aklan. The schoolchildren comply with COVID-19 protocols before entering their classrooms. Photos from DepEd @rapplerdotcom pic.twitter.com/NmcgaE1olo
— Michelle Abad (@michelleabad_) November 15, 2021

WASH HANDS. A kindergarten student washes her hands in Barangay Cabagdalan Elementary School in Balamban, Cebu.

Students here are given QR codes that will be scanned before entering the school premises for contact tracing purposes. The QR codes also serve as their IDs. @rapplerdotcom pic.twitter.com/KCDxJVwkV1
— Bonz Magsambol (@bnzmagsambol) November 14, 2021

PRESENT. A kindergarten student stands up fom his desk at the Barangay Cabagdalan Elementary School in Balamban, Cebu.

CLASS IN SESSION. Grade 11 and 12 students attende their class in the Mary Perpetua E. Brioso National High School in Tigbao, Milagros Masbate.

PARTICIPATING. A student participates in class at the Motiong Central Elementary School in Samar.

TEACHING. A teacher lectures her class at the Motiong Central Elementary School.

GUIDANCE. A teacher attends to her kindergarten student in Barangay Cabagdalan Elementary School in Balamban, Cebu.

DISINFECTION. First day of face-to-face classes in Longos Elementary School ends at 11:40 am. Classrooms are undergoing disinfection.

While COVID-19 cases in the country continue to decrease, the DepEd reminded Filipinos to still adhere to health protocols.

They said that with everyone’s help in improving the COVID-19 situation, the goal to reopen more schools nationwide “is not a far reality.” – Rappler.com

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