Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, June 25) — Private schools that offer basic education may now begin holding classes for the next academic year, provided there is no face-to-face learning, the Department of Education said Friday.
“Private schools and non-DepEd schools intending to start classes ahead of the general school year opening shall submit relevant documents to the regional director as required under DepEd Order No. 13, s. 2020 and DepEd Order No. 17, s. 2020 on readiness assessment,” the department said in a statement.
The DepEd has proposed three dates for the opening of the academic year 2021 to 2022: August 23, September 6, and September 13. President Rodrigo Duterte has yet to make a decision on this matter.
Under Republic Act 7797, “the school year shall start on the first Monday of June but not later than the last day of August.” Amid clamor to defer the start of classes due to the COVID-19 pandemic last year, Duterte signed a law allowing the President to set a different date for the start of the academic year during a state of emergency or calamity.
The current school year, initially set for August 24, 2020, was moved to October 5 of the same year under blended learning. It will end this July 10.
The DepEd earlier allowed private schools to start classes even before October 5.
