Deped says it’s ready; opens OBE, ‘Brigada’
THE Department of Education (Deped) is determined to have learners continue their education following the successful kickoff of “Brigada Eskwela [BE]” and “Oplan Balik Eskwela [OBE]” on Monday (June 1).
If last year the enrollment was over 27 million, Undersecretary Jesus Mateo is hoping to have these learners continue their education amid the Covid-19 pandemic.
“But given the current condition and concern of some parents this [over 27 million enrollees] might change. We hope with the combined efforts of stakeholders and partners we can bring them all to continue their education,” said Mateo, who is undersecretary for Planning, Human Resource and Organizational Development, and Field Operations.
Late enrollees
MATEO said the schools will still receive late enrollees for as long as they meet the rule of not missing more than 20 percent of the total school days.
The Deped reiterated that parents and students need not to go to school to enroll, in compliance with the health standards of the Department of Health (DOH) and Inter-agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF).
Parents of incoming Grade 1 to 12 learners will be contacted by their previous advisers for the remote enrollment or vice versa.
The Deped added that in every school there are assigned enrollment focal person (EFP) to receive and answer any inquiries on kindergarten, transferees, Balik-aral, and ALS learners. The Deped field offices will also issue a list with contact information of the schools.
For his part, Undersecretary Nepomuceno Malaluan, also Chief of Staff of the Office of the Secretary, said that they will issue an advisory for those who will not be able to enroll.
Particularly, this is for learners who don’t have any contact information, he said.
“In the next few days we will have a definite advisory on this [late enrollees],” Malaluan said.
Basic Education Learning Continuity Plan
AT the virtual kickoff of BE and OBE, Education Secretary Leonor Magtolis Briones presented the Basic Education Learning Continuity Plan in the Time of Covid- 19 (BE-LCP).
“This is the Department’s response to the challenges posed by Covid-19 in the field of basic education. I have always maintained that education must continue, whatever the changes and even dangers we confront now and in the future, “Briones said.
Briones stressed that the LCP is not the work of one person alone.
“It is truly an integrated output of the Department. BE-LCP is the result of consultations with partners and advisers, legislators, executives and directors, teachers, parents, learners and the general public. all these contributions were integrated and harmonized by the Executive Committee and Management Committee under my direction and drafted by my Undersecretary and Chief of Staff,” she said.
Briones said BE-LCP is the result of inputs from different units and field office soft he department; advice from the Philippine Forum for Inclusive Quality Basic Education or Educ Forum; counsel from the chairmen of the House and Senate Committees on Basic Education; an online survey of more than 700,000 respondents; and a survey of teachers’ readiness for distance learning delivery.
BE-LCP covers the essential requirements of education in the time of Covid-19, e.g. most essential learning competencies, multiple learning modalities for teachers, school leaders and learners, required health standards in schools and workplaces, and special activities like Brigada Eskwela, Oplan Balik Eskwela and partnerships.
Even before Covid-19 unleashed its fury on the international community and the country, the Deped chief said that they already saw the increasing role of technology in education.
For queries and clarifications regarding the enrollment and other initiatives of the Department for the upcoming school year, please call telephone numbers (02) 8636-1663; (02) 8633-1942; mobile phone numbers 0919-456-0027; 0995-921-8461; or e-mail at action@deped.gov.ph.
The public can also visit www.deped.gov.ph/ obe-be for frequently asked questions about SY 2020-2021.