MANILA – The Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-EID) has recommended the opening of school year 2020-2021 to late September.
Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque said Friday the recommendation was made after President Rodrigo Duterte extended the enhanced community quarantine until May 15 with the number of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) cases still growing in the country.
“Lahat ng eskuwelahan i-consider po ang late opening sa Setyembre, except po sa online learning,” Roque said. “Maski po low to moderate risk (areas) considered for 100 percent closure pa rin.”
Roque added that higher education institutions in areas under general community quarantine may continue classes to finish the academic year.
Earlier this week, Education secretary Leonor Briones said some schools were looking at opening classes in August, instead of June, to avoid large congregations and congested classrooms where the disease may easily spread.
Briones added that classes could still end in March, if schools would hold Saturday classes regularly next school year but the Department of Education will still follow the recommendation of IATF-EID.
The DepEd is also considering to deliver some lessons through television or radio should students remain restricted from traveling outside their homes due to the continued coronavirus lockdown.
Acting National Economic and Development Authority secretary Karl Chua, meanwhile, said that the IATF recommendation was not final as they will also wait for the presentation of the DepEd./PN
