At least 1,445 public schools out of the total 2,520 government-run learning institutions in Northern Mindanao are set to open full face-to-face (F2F) mode of classes on Aug. 22.

Some 160 private schools will also conduct F2F classes, according to the data presented by Dr. Arturo Bayocot, Department of Education-Region 10 (DepEd-10) director, in a press briefer Wednesday.

“Even VP (Vice President) Sara (Duterte-Carpio) said all (public) schools will do face-to-face by November; we are allowed to implement it ahead of schedule as long as basic public health protocols are met,” Bayocot said.

Most schools in hinterland barangays will also open with F2F classes, he added.

Bayocot said this city will be the only schools division to continue with the “blended” learning modality, at least for a while.

City Assistant Division Superintendent Lorebina Carrasco said they will be “testing the waters” by imposing blended-learning for two weeks.

“But eventually we will go full face-to-face, and we have already identified first our hinterland barangays for its implementation,” Carrasco said.

DepEd-10 is expecting more than 1.3 million students to go back to at least 3,101 schools all over Northern Mindanao. (PNA)