DepEd touts hitch-free opening of classes

FILE PHOTO: A teacher and her students learn together at the Pedro Cruz Elementary School in San Juan City as it reopened its face-to-face classes on Thursday, February 10, 2022. INQUIRER/GRIG C. MONTEGRANDE

MANILA, Philippines — The opening of classes for the school year 2022-2023 has so far been smooth and hitch-free, the Department of Education (DepEd) said.

DepEd spokesman Michael Poa said the department has not yet received any report of any untoward incidents related to the school opening as of 9:20 a.m.

“As 9:20 a.m. po, base po sa mga updates ng ating mga Regional Directors, maayos at mapayapa po ang pagbabalik Eskwela ng ating mga learners,” he told reporters in a Viber message.

(As of 9:20 a.m., based on the updates from our regional directors, the school opening is so far orderly and peaceful.)

“Wala pa pong nakakarating sa amin na untoward incidents. Patuloy po kaming naka-monitor sa ating mga paaralan,” Poa added.

(We have not yet received any reports of untoward incidents. However, we will continue monitoring our schools.)

The school year 2022-2023 started on Monday and will end on July 7, 2023.

DepEd earlier said the school year will have 203 school days, “or as may be determined by further issuance/s in case of changes in the school calendar due to unforeseen circumstances.”

About 46% of the country’s public and private schools are expected to conduct in-person classes five days a week, accounting for 24,175 schools nationwide.

Meanwhile, 51.8%, or 29,721 schools, will still adhere to the so-called blended modality, with in-person classes at least three days a week and the rest conducted online or using learning modules.

The remaining 1,004 schools, only 1.29%, would still be limited to distance learning.

EDV/abc