Taguig City has started its limited face-to-face classes in some schools on Monday, with strict health protocols in place to ensure the safety of participating teachers and students against the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19).

In an interview, Dr. George Tizon, Taguig City Education Office chief, said a committee composed of members from the Department of Health (DOH), Department of Education, representatives from the city’s health office, and DepEd Taguig-Pateros, have come up with necessary standards to ensure the safe conduct of face-to-face classes.

“(A committee) composed of DOH, DepEd representative city health office, local government together with DepEd TaPat (Taguig Pateros) upag siguraduhin yung health protocols at standard na gagamitin upang tiyakin yung ang kaligtasan ng mga estudyante natin. Mataas at may kalidad na pang international level (A committee composed of DOH, DepEd representatives, city health office, local government officials together with DepEd Taguig-Pateros have come up with health protocols and standards to ensure the safety of our students. Standards used are efficient and are up to international standards),” he added.

Two public elementary schools in the city, Senator Renato “Compañero” Cayetano Memorial Science and Technology High School (SRCCCMSTHS) and Ricardo P. Cruz Elementary School (RPCES), were among the 28 schools in Metro Manila that rolled out in-person classes for selected students on Monday.

Under the guidelines issued by the DepEd, the senior high school students will stay in class for only four and a half hours. At least 15 students participated in the pilot run of the face-to-face classes.

On the other hand, at least 12 pupils in Kinder and 16 each for Grades 1, 2, and 3 are allowed to participate in the three-hour face-to-face classes at RPCES.

Aside from limited capacity in classrooms, wash areas have been set up at the SRCCCMSTHS to ensure proper hygiene.

Tizon also said there is a great change in how classroom learning is conducted as they are now allowing “flexible learning” where 15 students will be present while their classmates will be studying online at home.

He added that preparations are now underway in other private and public schools to ensure that their teaching and non-teaching personnel are fully vaccinated along with their students.

Also included are adults who are members of the General Parents-Teachers Association. (PNA)