MANILA – The Department of Education (DepEd) has released the implementing guidelines on school calendar and activities for the upcoming school year in preparation for the opening of classes amid the community quarantine nationwide.
Under DepEd Order No.007 series of 2020, private schools and state or local universities and colleges offering basic education are allowed to open classes on the first Monday of June if there would be no face-to-face classes earlier than August 24.
Face-to-face classes may be conducted only in areas where schools are allowed to open physically. Schools must comply with the minimum health standards set that are consistent with the guidelines of the Department of Health, the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases and the Office of the President.
School opening, closing
Schools formally start on August 24, 2020 and end on April 30, 2021 for school year 2020-2021, consisting 203 class days.
The Alternative Learning System (ALS) open on the same date but its program duration would depend on the learner's educational background or existing knowledge level prior to enrollment in the ALS program.
Schools and community learning centers are authorized to decide on the specific learning modalities which may be appropriate to their situation under the supervision of the regional and schools division.
DepEd Secretary Leonor Briones has authorized the holding of Saturday classes through distance learning considering the compressed school calendar for this year.
Enrollment
Upon the completion of summer vacation on May 31, 2020, teachers are expected to start rendering service on June 1.
They will be oriented and trained on the utilization of distance learning delivery modalities, prepare instructional materials, and plan the organization of classes in consideration of the learning modalities to be employed.
Schools enrollment is from June 1 to 30.
Early registration of incoming Kindergarten, Grades 1, 7 and 11 learners may have been conducted from the last Saturday of June to last Friday of February.
Brigada Eskwela and Oplan Balik Eskwela will start on June 1 and end on August 29 while Oplan Kalusugan sa DepEd will be scheduled in September with separate guidelines to be discussed.
School activities
For this school year, the DepEd has cancelled the conduct of curricular and co-curricular activities which involve the gathering of learners.
These include science fairs, showcase of portfolios, trade fairs, school sports, campus journalism, festival of talents, job affairs, career orientation and other similar activities.
However, Palarong Pambansa-related activities shall be decided upon by the Palarong Pambansa board.
Parent-teacher conferences may be done online or face-to-face following social distancing guidelines not earlier than the second Saturday after the first three academic quarters.
When feasible, report cards shall be physically distributed to parents or guardians. Otherwise, a second copy of the report card may be uploaded online for easy access to students, parents and guardians in consideration of school records confidentiality.
Christmas break begins on December 19, 2020 and classes resume on January 4, 2021.
Remedial, advancement and enrichment classes during summer begin on May 3, 2021 and end on June 11, 2021. (PNA)
