Department of Education (DepEd) National Capital Region suspended classes in several private and public elementary and secondary schools in Quezon City on Monday to give way for President Arroyo’s State of the Nation Address (SoNA) to be held at the House of Representatives.

DepEd NCR Director Teresita Domalanta announced the suspension of the 24 public schools and 28 private schools located within the area of Commonwealth Avenue and IBP Road around Batasan. Various militant groups are expected to conduct rallies in the area.

“We suspended the classes for the safety of the students, kasi maraming tao na pupunta diyan na magrarally (because many people will converge in the area to conduct rallies),” Domalanta explained.

The public schools are: the Cecilia Muñoz Palma High School, Payatas A Elementary School, Payatas B ES, Payatas C ES, Payatas B Annex, Commonwealth ES, Commonwealth HS, Batasan National HS, Batasan ES, Bagong Silangan HS, Bagong Silangan ES, San Diego ES, Doña Juana ES, Holy Spirit ES, Commonwealth HS, Holy Spirit Annex, Judge Feliciano Belmonte Senior HS, Lupang Pangako ES, Lagro ES, North Fairview HS, North Fairview ES, Manuel L Quezon ES, Fairview ES and Balara HS.

The private schools are: Diliman Preparatory School; PAREF Northfield; Academia de Sta. Faustina, Inc.; Capitol Hills Christian School; Holy Family School; Lifespring Academy of Quezon City; Our Lord Saviour Christian Academy; Peacemaker International Christian Academy; Eden Learning Institute; Adonal Shepherd School; Aim High Learning School; ANIMA Christi Academy, Inc.; Balara Academy; Batasan Chunan Christian School; Batasan Hills Institute of Learning, Inc.; Bathaluma Christiam School, Inc.; Benz-on School.; Caroline Learning Center; Commonwealth Adventist ES, Inc.; Commonwealth Learner’s Christian School, Inc.; Dakila School Foundation, Inc.; Diliman Christian Institute, Inc.; Don Fabian School of Quezon City; Fairhope Academy, Inc.; Immaculate Mother School Foundation, Inc.; New Era University; Merry Mount Preparatory School of Quezon City, Inc.; and Our Lady of Mercy School.