SCHOOL OPENING: Why it had an extension?

Joel E. Masangkay

During the enrolment period, Department of Education announced that the classes will start on August 24, 2020 even there is still a threat of the virus. The DepEd is confident to continue the learning process of all the Filipino Youth to promote quality education and learning continuity as stated in our Constitution. However, all of these were changed when our President had made a decision changing that the School Opening from August it became 5th of October.

The DepEd has always been ready ever since it the pandemic started to shut all its operations and offices including the classes to keep the safety of our pupils and the teachers. From then on, the Fourth Quarter ended with an intervention where in class record was revised to ensure that grades will be calculated according to the remaining performance of our pupils that won’t greatly affect their Final Grades due to not having the final quarter exam. At this point, DepEd has started its way to create interventions that will still continue the learning for our pupils. Up to this moment the agency has been continuously doing their part to ensure that learning continuity will still be even there is a pandemic.

There are surveys that was conducted during the enrolment to further study which learning modality will fit at our pupils to learn at home. Thorough communications and meeting were done by our higher officials on how other countries continued their school year even there is the threat of the said virus. With the continuous updates done by our DepEd Secretary Ma. Leonor Briones, she made her outmost suggestion to our President to continue the classes this 24th of August. But why did our President change his decision? There could be factors that become indicators in this matter. One reason is the threat of Covid-19. Perhaps some of government officials sees that flattening the curve is not yet fully taken and the risk of having classes opened by August 24 is still a great risk. A great risk not only for learners but as well to teachers. Another reason is probably that is the National Budget. If the education system thoroughly changed its way of delivering learning, therefore there will be a great shift of the budget needed to continue the program of the DepEd which maybe costly or high. That is why probably our government cannot just open the school year without having enough or sustainable economy to supply the need of our education system.

This are just only some of my opinion that would at least tend to lead on such issue. Yet the most important to think of is, even the opening of class were delayed, learning will still continue on 5th of October. That is the important thing because our pupils will still have a quality education that is for all. Perhaps our government is just doing the right decisions for the safety and effectiveness of the agency even our country is facing difficulty amidst of the pandemic.

So it doesn’t matter now if it was moved, the important is DepEd and our government are still making its way to make sure that education will continue in our country no matter what. That is why dear parents, you can still enroll your children so this School Year 2020 – 2021 won’t be a waste. Make it still a priority to have the education of your children even we face crisis in pandemic because sooner or later it will finish. And since its done, then you will not make regrets that your children were not deprived of the education that they need because they skipped it for a year just because of this pandemic. Remember that Education is a Right. And it is our duty as parents and as well as human to give or provide that rights to the children.

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The author is Principal II at Cutud Elementary School