Briones: Opening of classes on August 24 will push through

Education Secretary Leonor Briones insisted Wednesday that the opening of classes on August 24 would push through despite appeals from different sectors and implementation of modified enhanced community quarantine (MECQ) in some areas.

“Tuloy pa rin. Tuloy na tuloy talaga on August 24 ang opening of classes,” Briones said in a Palace briefing.

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(Opening of classes on August 24 would push through.)

“Sa mga areas like NCR 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.

(In areas like NCR and Region 4A, which are still under close monitoring, they are not very affected because all our classes are online without face-to-face until next year and until the President so declares.)

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Briones noted that over 23.2 million students had enrolled nationwide, surpassing the target of 80% in 2019.

“Sa pagre-recover ng economy, we look forward na lalong lalaki ang enrollment sa mga private schools as well,” she said.

(With the recovery of the economy, we look forward to increasing enrollment in private schools as well.)

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Also read: DepEd: No need to wear uniforms during distance learning

Opening of classes on August 24 will push through

Senator Sherwin Sherwin Gatchalian and Francis Tolentino appealed on Wednesday for the postponement of classes in areas under MECQ.

Gatchalian, senate committee on basic education chairperson, noted that President Rodrigo Duterte has yet to declare whether Metro Manila and nearby provinces would remain under MECQ after August 18.

“My recommendation is kung ang areas ay ma-extend ang MECQ, we should just postpone school opening in those areas because hindi natin puwedeng palakarin ang mga guro natin at mga magulang sa isang kondisyon na lumalala,” Gatchalian said.

“Kung ang MECQ ay ma-extend we trigger itong bagong batas, itong RA 11480 doon lang po sa lugar,” he added.

Senator Francis Tolentino, meanwhile, reminded the DepEd that it has only 168 hours left to draft the implementing rules and regulations (IRR) of school opening.

He urged the education authorities to consider allowing high-risk areas to open classes at a later date.

“Different localities have varying health circumstances, and hence will need varying approaches in the delivery of education. It will be wise perhaps for DepEd to consider opening classes on a per regional health and connectivity situation basis,” he said.