The Department of Education announced Friday that the opening of classes has been pushed back to October 5, finally responding to calls from various sectors to adjust the schedule as the Philippine education system struggles to shift to distance learning.
Education Secretary Leonor Briones said that President Rodrigo Duterte gave his approval to delay the opening of classes in both public and private schools after DepEd raised difficulties faced especially with the shift to modified enhanced community quarantine in Metro Manila and nearby urban hubs.
“We will implement such a decision to defer school opening to October 5 pursuant to Republic Act No. 11480,” Briones said.
“We shall use the deferment to provide relief to the logistical limitations faced by the areas placed under MECQ and to fill in the remaining gaps of the school opening that we are currently addressing,” she added.
The initial schedule for school opening was set on Aug. 24.
However, Metro Manila and nearby provinces were placed back under stricter MECQ from Aug. 4 to 18 as COVID-19 cases surged.
Briones said even with the Oct. 5 opening of classes, blended learning would still be used as face-to-face classes remain prohibited.
Private schools, many of which are attached to universities and colleges, that have already started their classes will meanwhile be allowed to continue.
Adjusting the school calendar became possible after President Duterte signed into law a measure allowing DepEd to move the opening of classes beyond August as the COVID-19 pandemic disrupted the education system.
