DepEd rules out extension of enrollment period

BACK TO SCHOOL | Ehgy Boy Quilonio, a graduate of Dagupan City National High School in Pangasinan, volunteers to clean his former classroom in preparation for next week’s school opening. (Photo by WILLIE LOMIBAO / Inquirer Northern Luzon)

MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Education (DepEd) said on Tuesday that it would no longer extend the enrollment period in public schools, which will end on Aug 22, or on the first day of classes.

“Right now, we have not talked about the extension. Right now, the deadline for enrollment is on Aug. 22,” Michael Poa, spokesperson for DepEd, said at the televised Laging Handa briefing.

He added that so far, some 21.2 million learners have enrolled for the coming school year.

Under DepEd Order No. 34 issued on July 11, classes would start on Aug. 22 and end on July 7 next year.

Under the same order, Vice President and Education Secretary Sara Duterte required all public and private schools nationwide to switch to full-time in-person classes starting on Nov. 2.

But President Marcos said that “blended learning” would continue beyond Oct. 31 in “specific” areas identified by the DepEd.

“We continue with blended learning but in very specific places only. As much as possible, classes should really be [in-person],” he said.

On Tuesday, Poa also allayed the fears of students who would be physically attending school amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

“In terms of assistance to students, basically, what we can do is to excuse them from their classes as soon as they exhibit symptoms,” he said.

“Once they go to school and have symptoms, they will be automatically excused from class and switch to either modular learning or online learning, depending on the situation and depending on their condition,” he added.

The DepEd earlier revoked its policy of requiring teachers holding in-person classes to be vaccinated, saying that of the 37,000 who had yet to be jabbed, 20,000 already signed up for vaccination.

RELATED STORIES

Schools ready for in-person classes

DepEd: Students who contract COVID-19 during in-person classes are excused

COVID-19 outbreaks unavoidable during face-to-face classes — OCTA