MANILA - The Department of Education (DepEd) - National Capital Region (NCR) on Friday suspended classes forpublicschools from January 15 to 22, due to the rise in coronavirus infections in the region.

In Regional Memorandum No. 017 s. 2022, the department said the suspension of classes was done to ease the health burden caused by the surge of Covid-29 cases to the physical and mental well-being of school personnel and learners.

Private schools may exercise their own discretion on suspending classes if the Covid-19 risk in their areas is high upon consultation with parents' associations.

It added that classes in the region would resume from January 24 to 29, but "only for asynchronous distance learning modalities".

Learners are expected to use the mid-year break scheduled on January 31 to February to comply with their learning output backlogs.

Meantime, teachers are expected to attend their usual activities - in-service training and learning-related undertakings.

Learners must submit their learning outputs between February 7 and 12 through online platforms.

The second quarter examinations are scheduled for February 7 and 8.

"The lost contact days shall be compensated by mechanisms such as independent study, remediation, enhancement activities and other related teaching-learning interactions," the DepEd said.

On Wednesday, DepEd Undersecretary Diosdado San Antonio said the department cannot declare a national academic break as Covid-19 situations on the ground is different in every area.

On the other hand, he urged regional and schools division offices to use their discretion in suspending classes and other teaching-related activities due to the rise of infections. (PNA)