The Department of Education (DepEd) in a social media post said the school year 2022-2023 will start on August 22 for public schools.
The DepEd, in the Facebook post, also said the deadline for the full of face-to-face classes in both public and private schools is in November.
“The School Year 2022-2023 shall formally start on Monday, August 22, 2022, and end on Friday, July 7, 2023. There shall be a total of 203 days or as may be determined by further issuance/s in case of changes in the school calendar due to unforeseen circumstances,” the DepEd order read.
Enrollment will be from July 25 to August 22, while information programs Brigada Eskwela and Oplan Balik Eskwela will be conducted on August 1-26 and August 15, respectively, the DepEd further said.
The DepEd also said it will continue the “implementation of the K to 12 curricula amid the challenges posed by the pandemic,”
To prevent the spread of COVID-19 and other infectious diseases, the wearing of face masks shall be mandatory alongside the observation of physical distancing whenever possible.
The commuter advocacy group The Passenger Forum (TPF) meanwhile asked the government to reconsider its decision to start a phased transition to face-to-face classes starting in September.
Vice President and Education department Secretary Sara Duterte-Carpio also proposed a full face-to-face set-up by November.
But the TPF cautioned the government that the present situation of public transportation in the country’s metropolitan areas is not ready for a shift to face-to-face classes.
The recent announcement from Malacanang “means we have about two months to solve our public transport issues or at least provide some immediate relief to the plight of our commuters,” TPF Convener Primo Morillo said.
The Department of Transportation plans to coordinate with other government agencies and rationalize PUV trips in anticipation of the shift to face-to-face classes.
Secretary Jaime Bautista said they plan on working with the DepEd, Department of Interior and Local Government, Commission on Higher Education, and Metro Manila Development Authority to ensure a smooth transition. With Gabriellea B. Parino