Unless the Congress passes a law allowing it to be pushed to a later date, opening of classes will push through on August, Malacañang said on Monday.
This statement was made in response to Vice President Leni Robredo remarks to the Department of Education (DepEd) to move the opening of classes to a date where schools are more prepared to implement distance learning.
“Well, as far as the actual date of classes, may batas po iyan ‘no (there’s a law on that). We have to comply with the law which is the last week of August. Unless Congress will pass a law providing that we could open on a later date,” Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque explained.
The law he was referring to is Republic Act 7797, also known as “An Act to Lengthen the School Calendar from Two Hundred (200) days to not more than Two Hundred Twenty (220) Class Days,” which provides the “school year shall start on the first Monday of June but not later than the last day of August.”
On June 1, the Senate approved Senate Bill 1541 giving President Rodrigo Duterte authority to adjust the opening of classes beyond August 2020 while the country is currently under a state of national emergency.
The DepEd has set the opening of school year 2020-2021 on August 24, 2020 while the end of school year will be on April 30, 2021.
