The Department of Education (DepEd) has decided to permanently close two classrooms at San Jose National High School (SJNHS) in Tacloban City where three students were killed during a shooting incident on June 22, 2026. The rooms will no longer be used for regular classes as part of efforts to help students recover from the trauma.
Classrooms to Be Converted or Used as Storage
According to DepEd Tacloban Schools Division Information Officer Nilo Eder, the closure is intended to support the healing process of students, especially classmates of the victims who continue to suffer from trauma. In a phone interview on Tuesday, Eder stated, "If these classrooms will not be used as storage areas, they may be converted into offices." The two rooms where the victims were found have already been cleaned and repainted.
Resumption of Classes
Face-to-face classes resumed on Monday after a two-week suspension following the shooting. Of the 1,608 students enrolled before the incident, only 1,305 attended in-person classes on the first day of return. Eder noted that the lower attendance was expected, as some students are still recovering from trauma while others have transferred to different schools.
Gradual Return to Normalcy
Eder emphasized that the gradual resumption of face-to-face classes is deliberate to avoid overwhelming students as they continue to heal. "The gradual resumption of classes is intended to restore a sense of normalcy while ensuring that learners continue to receive the necessary psychosocial support," he said. Counseling and other mental health support services will continue until affected students fully recover.
