Sultan Kudarat town turns to remote learning after Banga shooting

KORONADAL CITY — All public and private schools in Tacurong City, Sultan Kudarat have temporarily shifted to alternative learning modes following the recent deadly shooting at Banga National High School (BNHS) in neighboring South Cotabato.Mayor Lina Montilla ordered the suspension of face-to-face classes at all levels, from preschool to higher education, starting Sept. 21 until further notice.Under Executive Order No. 64, schools may conduct classes through online, modular, or other blended learning arrangements while authorities assess the security situation.

READ: South Cotabato school shooting kills 3, hurts 6The city government said the move was a precautionary measure following the shooting in Banga, South Cotabato, which raised security concerns and anxiety over the safety of students, teachers, and other school personnel.Tacurong’s City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council was also placed on full alert and tasked to monitor security risks in coordination with law enforcement agencies.Police and military units were stationed in strategic areas, and Barangay Peacekeeping Action Teams were directed to increase visibility, set up strategic checkpoints, and intensify patrols around the city’s boundaries, transport terminals, and other public areas.School administrators were instructed to ensure the smooth transition to remote learning and maintain communication with students and parents regarding class arrangements, assignments, and learning modules.Faculty and staff may be placed under work-from-home arrangements or skeleton workforces at the discretion of school management, provided essential administrative operations are maintained.The city government said face-to-face classes would remain suspended pending a safety assessment and a declaration from law enforcement and emergency response agencies that security conditions have stabilized.

READ: Marcos condemns, orders thorough probe into South Cotabato shootingParents and guardians were advised to coordinate with their respective schools and monitor official announcements from the Schools Division Office./coa