DepEd eyes August opening for schools

MANILA, Philippines — Education stakeholders are leaning toward moving the opening of classes in public elementary and high schools to August and considering Saturday classes amid the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) crisis, the Department of Education (DepEd) announced yesterday.

Education Secretary Leonor Briones said the DepEd is conducting broad consultations with different sectors to take into account their views regarding the opening of classes this year.

“If we are going to base it on the present trend, it’s clear that their preference is August,” Briones said at a press briefing.

“But we also need to consider the IATF recommendations,” she added, referring to the Inter-Agency Task Force on Emerging Infectious Diseases.

The DepEd has initiated a survey to determine public perception on when people think classes for elementary and high school should begin this year. Options include June 1 to 15, June 16 to 30, July 1 to 15, July 16 to 31, Aug. 1 to 15 and Aug. 16 to 31.

The DepEd asked the respondents to identify primary concerns about education and the opening of classes in relation to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The agency also asked respondents if they are willing to send children to school with strict observance of social distancing, having lessons online, television or radio and if they agree with holding Saturday classes to make up for delays in the school opening.

It also raised the possibility of a compressed school year.

Under existing guidelines, the opening of classes in public elementary and high schools is scheduled on the first Monday of June.

Republic Act 7797, which sets the prescribed number of school days, allows the start of the school year anytime between the first Monday of June and last day of August.

Should the opening of classes be moved to a later date, Briones said they would institute a continuing learning program to ensure that the extended school break period for students would not be wasted. 

“We would encourage the youth to go to our website, DepEd Commons,” she said, referring to the online education platform recently launched by the department.

The platform – accessible at https://commons.deped.gov.ph – contains online review materials and open educational resources developed by public school teachers.

“We have longed for the time when suspension of classes will not in any way obstruct or delay the education of our school children,” DepEd Undersecretary for administration Alain del Pascua said.

Around 4.2 million people have accessed the website since it was launched, according to Briones.

LGU requests denied

Meanwhile, the DepEd has denied the requests of some local government units to use public schools for purposes other than being isolation facilities for COVID-19 patients.

The agency declined eight requests covering 48 public schools.

Pasig requested the use of 44 schools for distribution of food vouchers for learners, while Navotas requested the use of a school as a detention facility for quarantine violators.

“This was disapproved by the DepEd National Capital Region in consonance with the resolution recommending that schools shall solely be used as quarantine facilities and not for any other activities,” said DepEd.

DepEd regional offices also declined the request of the local government of Polomolok, South Cotabato to use a school for billeting of police officers manning a nearby checkpoint.

The agency said its regional offices have approved 185 requests to convert 710 public schools and other DepEd facilities as isolation and quarantine facilities.

Another 140 requests covering 383 schools and other DepEd facilities are under evaluation.