ON May 25, 2020, in a televised pronouncement, President Rodrigo R. Duterte expressed his worry about opening the classes on August 24 as proposed by Department of Education (DepEd) and approved by the National IATF-EID. President Duterte said that the safety of the students should be prioritized and unless a vaccine against Covid-19 is made available, classes will remain suspended in the country.

However, in a press conference conducted the following day, Spokesperson Harry Roque clarified that the President only mean those classes to be conducted in the traditional face to face scheme but expressed his support to other modalities that can be used in lieu of the said usual practice.

In another development, Sec. Leonor M. Briones appeared during the President’s address to the nation at the Malago Clubhouse in Malacañang on May 28, 2020 and delivered once again the Learning Continuity Plan (LCP) and the Learning Modalities proposed by DepEd which in the end earned the approval of the Chief Executive and eventually given his go signal for DepEd to open its classes minus the face to face delivery. The President even vowed to scrape the bottom of the barrel to fund the blended and distant learning strategy of the DepEd, emphasizing that the country will suffer if the education of schoolchildren is stopped due to Covid-19.

Sec. Briones, Usec. Nepomuceno Malaluan and Usec. Annalyn Sevilla appeared during the Laging Handa Virtual Presser hosted by PCOO Secretary Martin Andanar and Undersecretary

Rocky Ignacio to further clarify the agreement inked during the meeting of the Secretary

with the President and other cabinet members.

The Secretary emphasized that DepEd has no disagreement or conflict with the pronouncement of the President regarding no face-to-face classes and vowed that the department also does not want to endanger the students; the safety, protection; well-being of students, teachers, and employees are a priority.

They reiterated that there are other ways to deliver education aside from face-to-face learning like blended learning or flexible learning options, also known as distance learning.

Aside from the now frequently visited DepEd Commons with almost 7 million unique surfers, there are other platforms such as TV, radio, online platforms. DepEd is meeting with communication servers and is currently talking with PCOO Secretary Andanar for the possible use of government radio/tv facilities; talking with municipal radio stations.

DepEd is also meeting with communication experts on other ways to bring education through other learning modalities. As for the private schools that will increase tuition fees, they should apply with and seek approval from the DepEd regional directors and they should substantiate their application; as regards to why they are not lowering their tuition fees despite distance learning, there are costs to printed materials, other online/TV production costs to convert self-learning modules to digital format.

Enrolment will pursue the enrolment on June 1 to 30 based on DepEd Memo No. 54, s.2020 though the schools had an early registration last February, parents need to confirm if they will continue to enroll their children. This June, there will be 1) remote enrolment which means that there is no need for parents to go out to enroll and this can be done online, thru text or call the school; if needed to go to school, safety protocols will be observed; 2) aside from the enrolment forms, the schools will hand out survey forms which can also be filled out remotely. The survey includes questions such as availability of gadgets, internet, availability/capability of parent or guardian to assist the student if homeschooling, and what mode of learning they want. The survey will help DepEd design a learning continuity plan suitable for them or in their area.

As stated, these enrolment and survey forms can also be delivered to them with the help of the barangay officials. Even if parents or learners have no gadget or internet, DepEd will design a learning program for them. There are printed learning modules and schools will coordinate on how to deliver these materials to them.

In the end, DepEd will respect the decision of parents whether they will or will not enroll their children but DepEd will continue to provide education and will not interrupt the learning process.