PRESIDENT Duterte, on the “suggestion” of Sen. Christopher Lawrence ‘Bong’ Go, has decided to intervene on the issue of opening of classes by directing Department of Education secretary, Leonor Briones, to move the opening of schools to October 5, 2020.
In a memorandum to Briones and other education officials thru Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea, the DepEd is also instructed to ensure that all preparations are in place “for the smooth and successful ‘virtual opening’ of classes” by that time.
Briones has been adamant in the opening of classes this August 24, 2020, despite the result of hearings conducted by the Senate that the education department remains unprepared to cope with the situation brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic.
The President has also emphasized that he would not allow the opening of schools unless a vaccine against the virus is already available to protect the students.
By ‘virtual opening of classes,’ the Chief Executive is also reminding DepED about his stand of no ‘face-to-face’ and close physical contact among and between students and their teachers.
It again took the intervention of Senator Go for the President to see the merits of the lawmakers’ concerns before he decided to issue the memorandum last August 14, 2020.