DepEd moves opening of classes to October 5

DepEd moves opening of classes to October 5 following a memorandum from President Rodrigo Duterte

The Department of Education (DepEd) made the announcement on its Facebook page on Saturday. According to the post, President Rodrigo Duterte has approved the recommendations of DepEd which were sent on August 6. The proposal was made in response to the implications of having a modified enhanced community quarantine (MECQ) enforced in Metro Manila and in certain provinces.

Statement of Secretary Leonor Magtolis Briones
On the Opening of Classes

This morning, we received a memorandum from the Office of the President that the President has already made the decision in respect to the recommendation that I have submitted to him on August 6, in response to the implications of imposition of Modified Enhanced Community Quarantine (MECQ) in Metro Manila and in the provinces of Cavite, Bulacan, Laguna and Rizal.

As per the memorandum, the President has given approval to the recommendation of DepEd. Thus, we will implement such a decision to defer school opening to October 5 pursuant to Republic Act No. 11480. We shall use the deferment to provide relief to the logistical limitations faced by the areas placed under MECQ and to fill in the remaining gaps of the school opening that we are currently addressing.

Areas outside MECQ are directed to continue their orientations, dry runs, and delivery of learning resources so that we will be ready for the opening of classes on October 5.

We trust that this is the final adjustment of the school opening. Even with the implementation of MECQ, we will use this time to make the necessary adjustments and ensure that all preparations have been made for the successful opening of classes for School Year 2020-2021