MANILA – The Department of Education (DepEd) is pushing through with the Aug. 24 opening of 2020-2021 school year despite some areas reverted to modified enhanced community quarantine (MECQ).
DepEd secretary Leonor Briones said it is “all systems go” for the blended learning, adding the face-to-face classes will only be allowed beginning on January next year.
“Tuloy pa rin. Tuloy na tuloy talaga on August 24 ang opening of classes,” Briones said in a Palace briefing. “Sa pagre-recover ng economy, we look forward na lalong lalaki ang enrollment sa mga private schools as well.”
“Sa mga areas like NCR (National Catil Region) and Region 4A na under close monitoring pa, hindi sila masyadong apektado dahil lahat ng classes natin ay online walang face-to-face until next year and until the President so declares,” she added.
Briones also said students’ desire to return to class was evident as over 23.2 million learners have enrolled nationwide, surpassing the target of 80 percent of last years’ headcount.
“We have conducted more than 500 simulations. Tinetesting namin ang blended education kung ito ay uubra. Nakikita namin na ito ay uubra maski walang face-to-face classes at this time,” Briones said.
On Wednesday, some senators suggested postponing the opening of classes in MECQ areas. The Teachers’ Dignity Coalition also appealed for the postponement citing the limited time to produce learning modules./PN
