On Tuesday, April 21, 2020, the Department of Education (DepEd) announced that there is a possibility that the next academic year will start in August instead of June, GMA News reports.
During a public briefing, DepEd Secretary Leonor Briones explained that this was the decision made after the agency consulted with advisers, officials, sectors, teachers, and other stakeholders.
“Tinatanong namin anong sa palagay nila ang tamang panahon na magbukas ng eskuwelahan,” said Briones. “Right now ang lumabas sa ating consultations ay karamihan… para sa August.”
DepEd also held an online survey to gauge public opinion on when the next school year should commence. Of the estimated 700,000 respondents, many recommended having the academic year start in August.
ABS-CBN News reports that DepEd is also considering implementing Saturday classes so that the school year can still end in March 2021 while complying with the required number of school days.
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“Kino-consider namin ang possibility, for example, of Saturday classes, pero hindi iyong mga face-to-face classes. They can do their work at home,” Briones explained.
Briones added that they are considering starting the school year in August to make sure there is enough time for schools to prepare curricula, teaching and learning methods, and ensure the safety of their facilities.
Moreover, the department encourages students to continue learning at home using DepEd Commons, the agency’s new online educational platform which supports alternative learning methods during the enhanced community quarantine (ECQ).
DepEd Undersecretary Nepomuceno Malaluan also clarified that even if the school year starts in August, that does not mean the students will be required to physically go to school, GMA News reports. This decision will be discussed by the Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF).
“When we say we are opening the school year probably by August, it does not necessarily mean ang mga bata ay pupunta sa paaralan,” said Malaluan. “Depende ‘yan sa kung ano ang mapagdesisyunan ng IATF. Ang IATF pinag-aralan nang husto ang kalagayan sa buong bansa kaya kung ano ang rekomendasyon ng IATF at desisyon ng presidente, may influence dito kung kailan magbubukas ang klase.”
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