Photo: Facebook/DepEd Philippines
The Department of Education (DepEd) is reassuring the public that it will be disinfecting learning materials such as printed modules before these are packed and distributed, as a way of safeguarding teachers and students.
According to DepEd Undersecretary Revsee Escobedo, DepEd’s regional offices (ROs) and school division offices (SDOs) will be observing the implementation of health and safety protocols as the bureau prepares for the opening of classes on October 5. DepEd is coordinating with barangay councils for the distribution of the said materials. The learning kits will also come with health tips and reminders.
Escobedo noted that all regions in the Philippines will be using a combination of printed modules as well as television and radio-based instruction.
Classes were earlier disrupted in March as community quarantines were implemented all over the country due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Under blended learning, television, radio, and the Internet are to be combined as modes of instruction as face-to-face classes will be largely prohibited.
Pursuant to Republic Act (RA) No. 11480, which gives the President the power to move the date of the opening of classes in the Philippines or in areas during a state of calamity, an amendment was made to Republic Act (RA) No. 7797, which states that classes must open as early as the first Monday of June but no later than the last day of August. President Rodrigo Duterte approved DepEd’s recommendation to delay the opening of classes from August 24 to October 5 as a response to community quarantines in place in Metro Manila and in provinces. The time freed up will be used by DepEd to “provide relief to logistical limitations” by areas under quarantine.
