In observance of the Holy Week, the Philippine News Agency’s online news service will be off on March 29, Good Friday, and March 30, Black Saturday. Normal operations will resume on March 31, Easter Sunday.

— The Editors

'All systems go’ for Aug. 22 school opening: DepEd

By Filane Mikee Cervantes

August 19, 2022, 4:23 pm

MANILA – The Department of Education (DepEd) on Friday said it is ready for the scheduled opening of classes on Aug. 22.

"All systems go na tayo for the opening of classes," DepEd spokesperson Michael Poa said in a press conference.

Poa said a total of 24,175 public and private schools nationwide or 46 percent will implement five-day face-to-face classes, while 29,721 schools or about 51.8 percent will implement blended learning modality.

Meanwhile, the remaining 1.29 percent or about 1,004 schools will conduct distance learning.

Poa, citing Aug. 19 DepEd data, said the current total enrollment on the basic education level is 27 million learners, which is 96 percent of the agency's target of 28.6 million.

DepEd Undersecretary Epimaco Densing III earlier said schools will be given options of in-person, blended, or full-distance learning only until Oct. 31.

After this, all enrolled students will be required to attend face-to-face classes, under DepEd Order (DO) 034, series of 2022.

“This is mandatory, they are all required to go to school and the mandate is really to eventually go face-to-face. Everybody who’s enrolled should abide by the Department Order, parents are also encouraged to ensure that their students go to school. Again, we’re trying to do some educational recovery,” he said.

According to the same DO 034, there are 203 days for Academic Year 2022-2023 for public schools, which will begin on Aug. 22, 2022 and will end on July 7, 2023. (PNA)

Comments