There’ll be classes on Oct. 31, Nov. 3 but…

MANDAUE CITY, Cebu—Students in Elementary and High School will have classes on October 31 and November 3 but it won’t be face-to-face.

This was what Dr. Bianito Dagatan, Superintendent of the Department of Education in Mandaue City (DepEd-Mandaue), said as the public prepares for the holding of the Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections on October 30 and Undas/Kalag-Kalag days on November 1 and 2. 

“No face-to-face classes but counted gihapon. Part sa ilaha nga calendar. Sa una wala man ta ana nga idea. Kung walay klase, wala gyud. Karun, after the pandemic, naa na tay gitawag nga kung dili mag face-to-face, adopt sa blended. It’s either module, synchronous or asynchronous basta naa sila’y buhaton sa kana nga period,” said Dagatan.

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(No face-to-face classes but it will still be counted. It’s part of their calendar. Before, we didn’t have that idea. If there was no classes, there’ll really be no classes. Now, after the pandemic, it could be that if it’s not face-to-face, we adopt the blended learning. It’s either module, synchronous or asynchronous as long as they will do something on that period.)

Not required to go to school

However, Dagatan said students can still choose to answer the modules before or after those days, especially since some families prefer to visit cemeteries before or after All Saints’ Day and All Souls’ Day on November 1 and 2, to avoid larger crowds.

Teachers are also not required to report to the school on those days. Teachers and students are expected to return to school on November 6.

October 31 and November 3 were not declared holidays. Last year, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. declared October 31 as a special non-working holiday.

For the Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections, Marcos declared October 30 a special non-working day.

/bmjo

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