A congressional leader on Wednesday batted for the opening of classes to September following President Duterte’s signing of Republic Act 11480 or the “Act to Lengthen the School Calendar from 200 Days to Not More Than Two 220 Class Days. Rep. Ronnie Ong of Ang Probinsyano party-list group said the enactment of the measure will provide the government the option to move the opening of classes when the country’s educational system is really ready and equipped to conduct the virtual classes and the Department of Education’s so-called “blended learning.”
Ong, one of the authors of R.A. 11480, said the law provides President Duterte more latitude to re-adjust the opening of classes in times of national emergency.
R.A. 11480 has amended R.A. 7797 which requires that opening of classes should be between the first Monday of June to the last day of August.
“Through RA 11480, the DepEd is no longer obligated to push for the opening of classes as prescribed by RA 7797 even if it is barely ready to conduct classes because of the continuing national health emergency caused by the COVID-19 virus,” Ong, vice chair of the House committee on rural development, said.
Instead of pushing for the August opening of classes, Ong said that this can be re-adjusted to September or October, or when the country’s educational institutions are really ready and prepared to conduct classes.
“We thank the President for signing of RA 11480. We crafted the law so that the DepEd is be relieved from the pressure of opening classes even when it is obviously not ready,” Ong said.
“With this new law, we now have a leeway to prepare more and equip better both our learners and teachers. No more legal impediment for DepEd to postpone the opening of classes. Let’s use this time instead to make sure no learner, wherever they are, whoever they are, is left behind. DepEd should properly re-tool all their teachers and their system to adapt to the new normal of blended learning,” he added.
Last May 2020, Ong urged DepEd to postpone the resumption of classes as Philippine education, along with its learners and teachers, is not ready to have virtual classes. The party-list solon stated that the resumption of classes this year resorting to online virtual classrooms would only prejudice students who are not equipped with e-learning gadgets and could not afford to have any internet connection.
R.A. 11480 covers all grade schools and high schools, including foreign and international schools. It will take effect upon publication in the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation. Education Secretary Leonor Briones in news reports thanked Duterte and lawmakers for the new law, and promised to issue specific rules as soon as possible.