Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, June 23) – The Department of Education has recommended three dates for President Rodrigo Duterte to choose from for the opening of the next school year.
The DepEd on Wednesday said it proposed that classes start on any of the following dates: August 23, September 6, or September 13.
“We will release the final school calendar for School Year 2021-2022 once we get the final approval of the President,” it said in a statement.
Under RA 11480, an academic year shall start on the first Monday of June but not later than the last day of August. However, in case a state of emergency or state of calamity is declared, the President, upon the recommendation of the education secretary, may set a different date.
The current school year will end on July 10. This means if Duterte chooses to open classes on August 23, summer vacation will be cut short to six weeks instead of the usual eight.
The DepEd said it will continue to implement “enhanced blended learning” after the President thumbed down its proposal to resume face-to-face classes in low-risk areas. Duterte decided against in-person education amid threats of new COVID-19 variants, especially the Delta variant first identified in India.
READ: DepEd withdraws request to resume face-to-face classes after Duterte’s rejection
“We will continue to prepare and improve the delivery of quality education no matter what the circumstances will be in the coming months,” the DepEd said.
Blended learning involves the use of printed materials, internet-based sessions, and radio and TV broadcasts. While this style of education is deemed necessary to stem the spread of coronavirus, a national survey released in March showed that 89% of families nationwide think that the remote learning arrangement is more difficult than physical classes.
