Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, April 24) — The Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases has recommended moving the opening of classes for school year 2020-2021 to September, a government spokesman said.
“Dahil ang mga transmitters ay mga kabataan mula edad 0-20—lahat ng eskwelahan, i-consider po ang late opening sa Setyembre except po sa online learning,” Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque said during a taped briefing aired on Friday.
[Translation: Because those aged 0-20 are considered transmitters, all schools must consider a late opening by September, except for online learning.]
Roque said the physical closure of schools could also be among the options for localities where COVID-19 risk is deemed ‘low to moderate.’
These areas are:
Abra
Ilocos Norte
Cagayan
La Union
Isabela
Nueva Vizcaya
Marinduque
Camarines Sur
Aklan
Capiz
Samar
Western Samar
Zamboanga del Sur
Lanao del Norte
Misamis Occidental
Misamis Oriental
Cotabato
South Cotabato
Maguindanao
Negros Occidental
Negros Oriental
Siquijor
Davao del Sur
Davao Oriental
Sultan Kudarat
Lanao del Sur
Apayao
Mt. Province
Ifugao
Kalinga
Ilocos Sur
Batanes
Quirino
Aurora
Palawan
Romblon
Camarines Sur
Camarines Norte
Guimaras
Sorsogon
Masbate
Bohol
Eastern Samar
Northern Samar
Leyte
Southern Leyte
Zamboanga del Norte
Zamboanga Sibugay
Bukidnon
Camiguin
Davao Occidental
Sarangani
Agusan del Sur
Dinagat Island
Surigao del Norte
Surigao del Sur
Agusan del Norte
Basilan
Sulu
Earlier, Education Secretary Leonor Briones told CNN Philippines that upon consultations with partners and experts, the agency is looking at August as the possible new timeline for resumption of classes.
Classes in elementary and high school levels and in some tertiary schools started in June last year.
Meanwhile, other colleges and universities using the new academic calendar opened their school year in June or August 2019.
The COVID-19 outbreak has significantly interrupted the academic year of students in the country. In-person classes have been suspended since March to help prevent the spread of the coronavirus disease.
Some of the learning institutions have transitioned to online learning, but it has been challenging for students without access to the internet
