The Department of Education (DepEd) has developed emergency learning kits (ELKs) for public school students in Negros Occidental affected by the eruption of Mt. Kanlaon since Dec. 9.

The ELKs were distributed to learners in evacuation centers and to those who have not evacuated but with suspended face-to-face classes, Ian Arnold Arnaez, spokesperson of DepEd Schools Division-Negros Occidental, said in an interview on Monday.

Arnaez said the ELKs provide adjusted or lighter learning competencies for the students to cope with their lessons.

“Learners staying at home will only use modules, while those in evacuation centers will have blended learning. They will use the ELKs, but every now and then, they will have granular meetings with their teachers in the evacuation centers to be guided in answering their modules,” he added.

In La Castellana town, the worst-hit locality that has at least 14 active evacuation centers, face-to-face classes resumed on Monday in 23 public schools outside the six-kilometer radius permanent danger zone (PDZ).

The rest include 11 schools, of which seven are within the PDZ, while the four are being used as evacuation centers.

In adjacent La Carlota City, face-to-face classes also resumed on Monday in at least 25 schools situated outside the six-kilometer radius PDZ and those not being used as evacuation centers.

However, in Moises Padilla town, face-to-face classes have not resumed since the eruption last month.

“Now the learning schedule has been organized, there is now a system. Still, their lessons are no longer aligned with the other schools. They can extend hours to catch up, adjustments will be made and they will be assessed on their learning of the lessons during the school year,” he added. (PNA)