Despite calls from various sectors to scrap the school year due to the problems brought by COVID-19, the Department of Education (DepEd) is determined to push through with their plan to open classes on August 24.
According to the DepEd, children’s education should not stop even if there is a pandemic. Going to school and doing their lessons should bring normalcy in the learners’ lives. Responding to criticism that this would be harmful to the children’s health, the Education Department clarified that this year might be more on online education and distance learning instead of face-to-face classes.
Even if President Rodrigo Duterte told the nation that kids should just focus on play this year instead of going back to school, presidential spokesperson Harry Roque said that parents should enroll their kids starting on June 1.
Photo credit: Sun Star
The DepEd earlier announced that the entire month of June will be dedicated to the enrollment process. Just like the ‘blended learning’ that’s going to be implemented this school year, the enrollment will also be ‘blended’. Parents can enroll their kids via online means, but in places where community quarantine is relaxed, it might be possible to do it in school.
“Puwedeng online enrollment at puwede ring iyong forms ay sasagutan ng mga bata at ng mga magulang, at ipapadala sa eskuwelahan. Puwedeng physical, puwedeng virtual,” explained Education Undersecretary Revsee Escobedo.
While the DepEd launched the early registration system from February 1 to March 6, Education Undersecretary Nepomuceno Malaluan explained that there is a need to ‘revalidate’ the data due to the changes brought by the pandemic.
Photo credit: PhilSTAR
“Itong June 1 to 30 ay panahon para ma-revalidate ‘yan [early registration] dahil nag-iba ‘yong condition. Hindi natin alam kung ‘yong mga magulang ay handa pa ring papasukin ‘yong kanilang mga anak,” he said.
In line with that, parents or guardians will be asked to answer a survey which will help the DepEd identify which type of learning delivery will be best suited for the student. Aside from modes of transportation to school if face-to-face learning is possible, they will also be asked whether there are gadgets at home and access to the internet.
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