Palace: IATF OKs start of face-to-face basic education classes on Aug. 24

MANILA, Philippines — The government’s task force against the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) has adopted the resolution of the Department of Education (DepEd) to start the holding of face-to-face classroom classes on August 24, 2020, presidential spokesman Harry Roque said Saturday.

“Lahat ng face-to face, classroom, instruction sa basic education, August 24 ang magsisimula,” Roque said in a Laging Handa press briefing.

(All face-to-face, classroom instruction for basic education will start on August 24.)

According to Roque, the resolution which was approved by the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-MEID) also sets the end of the next school year on April 30 next year.

“Ang inaprubang resolution ang pagbubukas ng klase para sa basic education ay simula po ng 24 ng Augusto 2020 at magtatapos ng Abril 30, 2021,” Roque said.

(The resolution approved the opening of classes for basic education which starts on 24 of August 2020 and ends on April 30 next year.)

Meanwhile, Roque said private schools can open classes earlier than August 24, but he stressed that it should not be a face-to-face instruction setup.

“(Ang) pagbukas ng private school pwedeng mas maaga pero wala pa pong face to face hanggang Augusto 24, 2020,” he said.

(The start of private school classes can begin earlier but there should be no face-to-face until Aug. 24, 2020.)

Roque said delivery options maybe home school learning and online schooling.

“Yung mga ilang pribadong paaralan na nais magsimula ng Hunyo, wala pong face-to-face instruction. Siguro pwedeng online, pwedeng home schooling,” Roque said.

(Other private schools who want to open in June but there should be no face-to face instruction. It can be online, home schooling.)

Roque said job fairs, campus journalism events, school sports competitions, and other school events that promote mass gathering will also be lessened.

/MUF