Education Secretary Leonor Briones said Tuesday the opening of classes in public and private schools for school year 2020-2021 would be moved from June to August.
In a virtual public briefing, Briones said the change in the date of class opening, usually in the first week of June, was legal as the law states that classes may open any time between June and August.
But Senate President Vicente Sotto III wants classes in both public and private schools to adjust their academic year opening to September instead due to the continued threat of the coronavirus (COVID-19) to the country.
Noting that the June opening is just a month away, Sotto said there was a need to delay this year's school opening to ensure the welfare of students nationwide.
Republic Act 7977, or the Act to lengthen the school calendar from 200 days to not more than 220 days, mandates the opening of school classes every year on the first Monday of June and not later than the last day of August.
In an online news conference, Sotto said his proposed measure on the school calendar bill would be a priority in the Senate, adding the September opening was safe.
“What is important on that bill is the power of the President to adjust the school opening. August, we don’t need the bill, but what if there’s a second wave,” he said.
Briones, speaking in Filipino, said: “August 24 will be the first day of classes but it doesn't mean physical classes because other areas are under lockdown.
“It could be virtual, or physical in areas where physical school opening is allowed but officially August 24, then end of) school year by April 30."
The safety and well-being of the learners are the primary factors considered by the Department of Education in moving to a later date the opening of classes.
Earlier, the DepEd had an online survey asking parents, education partners and other stakeholders about their preferred date for the opening of classes.
Over 700,000 respondents recommended August as the best month for the opening of classes.
Briones said there were flexible learning options, with the use of cellphones, televisions, and radios, which could be adopted by schools that could not conduct in-person classes in August.
Teachers, however, would have to start working in June to prepare for the "new normal" in holding classes.
Briones added: “But our teachers, they will be working by June 1 to 30 because it's the enrollment period, they will render) service whether physically or virtually."
Sotto, in his proposed Senate Bill 1438, said it was important to “give the Department of Education more time and opportunity to prepare and adopt measures for the new normal of the education system.”
SBN 1438, Sotto added, will amend RA 7977 and serve as the enabling law for the execution of the April 24 recommendation of the Inter-Agency Task Force on the management of Emerging and Infectious Diseases (IATF-EID) to move the class opening to September.
“The approved recommendation of the IATF-EID runs counter to the law… To remedy the situation created by COVID-19 and consequently allow the execution of the IATF-EID recommendation, this measure is being proposed,” Sotto said.
Classes in all levels and all activities in both public and private learning institutions nationwide have been suspended since March 10 after President Rodrigo Duterte declared a national health emergency because of the COVID-19. With PNA