LEARNING CENTER CONDUCTS FACE-TO-FACE CLASSES

THE Iloilo City Government Children’s Learning Center or Talatapan (Talino, Lakas, Talento, Panpramanita) welcomed its new batch of pre-schoolers as the first day of face-to-face classes commenced on September 19. After two years of online schooling from home because of the pandemic, the Learning Center successfully opened its classroom through the coordinated efforts of the staff and teachers. Mayor Jerry Treñas directed the City Social Welfare and Development Office and City Population Office to supervise the Learning Center’s operations. There are 12 three-year-old children enrolled in the Pre-K1 program, and 18 four-year-olds in Pre-K2. “We follow Covid protocols for the children to observe social distancing. There is a thermal scanner and alcohol dispenser, and we see to it that all children and staff wear face masks. There are also posters to remind everybody to follow health protocols,” Center Coordinator Shirley Conte said. “Despite the challenges, we want the children to feel this is their second home, that they are safe and being taken care of,” she added. In pursuance of the guidelines issued by the Early Childhood Care Development Council, the center adopted modular learning, wherein students are provided with learning modules that they must accomplish and bring with them when they return to class. Students are allowed to come to school for two days, spending at least one-and-a-half hours per class. After that, they can be picked up by their parents or guardians, who are working in the city government. The remaining three days are intended for their modules every week.