The Department of Education (DepEd) announced on Friday that President Rodrigo Duterte has been approved its recommendation to move the opening of School Year 2020-2021 from August 24 to October 5.

According to Education Secretary Leonor Briones, they had submitted the recommendation to Duterte last August 6 after Metro Manila, Cavite, Bulacan, Laguna and Rizal were reverted to modified enhanced community quarantine (MECQ).

“As per the memorandum of the president, he has given approval to the recommendation of DepEd. Thus, we will now implement such a decision to defer the school opening to October 5 pursuant to Republic Act No. 11480,” Briones said.

Areas outside MECQ were directed to continue orientations, dry runs, and delivery of learning resources for the October 5 opening.

Briones maintained that there would still be no face-to-face learning despite the deferment of the school opening.

What about private schools?

Private schools that have already started the school year can continue with their classes.

“Kung pipigilin namin sila eh nakaumpisa na, kuntodo involvement na ng mga parents tapos titigilan natin, that would not be useful at all,” Briones said, answering a question from a reporter.

She also said private schools have their own operations manual although they are still under the DepEd.

Gaps, limitations

Briones said DepEd will use the deferment to “provide relief to the logistical limitations” faced by the areas under MECQ, which she said are “very significant in terms of the entirety of our learner population.”

She also said the with the new schedule, the DepEd will fill in the remaining gaps of the school opening that they are currently addressing.

Under RA 11480, the president, upon recommendation of the Secretary of Education, has the power to set at any date the opening of classes in the entire Philippines or in selected affected areas in times of state of calamity or emergency.

RA 11480 amended Republic Act 7797, which set the opening of classes as early as the first Monday of June but not later than the last day of August.

The measure covers all basic education schools, including foreign or international schools in the Philippines. It also allows the conduct of Saturday classes for elementary and secondary levels, based on the report from GMA News.

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