The Department of Education (DepEd) confirmed that the opening of classes for School Year (SY) 2020-2021 in public schools nationwide is on June 1.
DepEd Undersecretary and Spokesperson Annalyn Sevilla said that the school opening in public schools would be on the first Monday of June. However, she clarified that the DepEd School Calendar for School Year 2020-2021 has not yet been released.
Based on Republic Act No. 7977 or “An Act to Lengthen the School Calendar From Two Hundred (200) Days to Not More Than Two Hundred Twenty (220) Class Days”, the school year shall start on the first Monday of June but not later than the last day of August.
Private schools shall begin classes for the school year on the first Monday of June, or the next day if that Monday is a legal holiday unless otherwise exempted by the Secretary as stated on DepEd Order No. 88, s. 2010.
Oplan Balik Eskwela 2020
Earlier, DepEd Secretary Leonor Briones ordered the conduct of National Oplan Balik Eskwela (OBE) and the establishment of the Public Assistance Command Center (PACC) from May 25 to June 5, 2020, to ensure the smooth opening of classes.
“The OBE is part of the Department’s efforts to ensure that learners are properly enrolled and able to attend school on the first day of classes. The OBE aims to address problems, queries and other concerns commonly encountered by the public at the start of the school year.”
The Department of Education (DepEd) will coordinate with government agencies that form part of the OBE Inter-Agency Task Force (OBE-IATF), including the Departments of Energy (DOE), Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG), Department of Health (DOH), Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), Department of Transportation (DOTr), Manila Electric Company (MERALCO), Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System (MWSS), Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA), Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA), Philippine National Police (PNP), National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC), and Presidential Communications Operations Office (PCOO).
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The task force will have a command conference among the DepEd officials, partner agencies from the public and private sectors, media, and other stakeholders on May 25, 2020, 8:00 a.m. at the Bulwagan ng Karunungan, DepEd Central Office (CO), Pasig City.
The National Oplan Balik Eskwela (OBE) for School Year (SY) 2020-2021 implementation shall be under the general supervision of the Office of the Secretary with Undersecretary and Chief of Staff, Nepomuceno A. Malaluan, and Undersecretary Jesus L.R. Mateo as co-chairs and the Public Affairs Service Director June Arvin C. Gudoy, as vice-chair.
All DepEd personnel are enjoined to support this activity to ensure the smooth opening of classes.
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Source: Merlina Hernando-Malipot (Manila Bulletin)
