MANILA, Philippines (Updated 3:13 p.m.) — Inaprubahan na ni Pangulong Rodrigo Duterte ang pagpapaliban ng school opening, na una nang itinakda para sa ika-24 ng Agosto.
Ang balita ay inilabas ni Education Secretary Leonor Briones, Biyernes nang hapon.
"As per the memorandum of the president, he has given approval to the recommendation of DepEd... thus we will now implement such decision to defer school opening to October 5, persuant to Republic Act 11480," sabi ni Briones.
"It will be recalled that the law specifically states that the president can decide on the opening of ... classses upon the recommendation of the Secretary of the Department of Education."
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Posted by DepEd Philippines on Thursday, August 13, 2020
Aniya, gagamitin nila ang memorandum para magbigay ng ayuda sa mga lugar na nasa ilalim ng mas mahigpit na modified enhanced community quarantine (MECQ).
Sa kasalukuyan, marami pa rin kasi sa mga modules na gagamitin para sa offline distance learning ay hindi pa rin naiimprenta. Lagpas 50% pa lang nito ang napi-print, ayon sa DepEd.
Basahin: DepEd pag-uusapan kung ipapagpaliban ang August 24 school opening
"It's very large... and involves millions of learners. Region 4-A alone has 4 million and NCR has more than 2 million learners, as well as other regions," dagdag pa ni Briones.
"We want to fill in the remaining gaps of the school opening by providing relief because of the logistical limitations."
Una na 'yang iminungkahi ng ilang senador gaya nina Sen. Christopher "Bong" Go at iba pang grupo.
Nagtitiwala naman sina Briones na ito na ang huling beses na magkakaroon ng pag-usog ng klase, lalo na't magagamit daw nila ang allowance sa oras para lalong makapaghanda.
Ikinatuwa naman ng Alliance of Concerned Teachers (ACT) ang desisyon ng DepEd, lalo na't tila nadinig nito ang ilan nilang panawagan sa patuloy na pangangalampag.
Aniya, sana'y maitulak nito ang gobyerno na totoong magkaroon ng ligtas at de kalidad na pagbabalik-eskwela.
"DepEd's announcement of defering school opening to October 5 is brought about by the clamor of stakeholders grounded on very valid and sound arguments which the agency can no longer deny," sabi ng grupo.
"We have proven today that the people's voices can and will triumph, and we shall continue to push the government to fulfill the requisites for a safe, accessible, and quality education."