Parents can only visit schools after June 15, says DepEd exec

Physical enrollment for School Year 2020-2021 -- which will be held under the shadow of the COVID-19 pandemic -- will not start until the second half of June, a Department of Education (DepEd) official said Monday.

Interviewed on Unang Hirit, DepEd Undersecretary Diosdado San Antonio said from June 1 to 15, enrollment will be done through the internet, texting or phone calls. He said parents can visit the campus after June 15 if they have more concerns about the enrollment.

“Ngayong first two weeks, hindi muna pupunta ng paaralan ang mga magulang. ‘Yung mga teachers ang magte-text sa mga magulang,” San Antonio said.

“After June 15 -- two weeks po kasi online enrollment lang po tayo lahat -- so kung merong pangangailangan na pumunta ng paaralan ang mga magulang, mag-observe din ng social distancing,” he added.

During the monthlong enrollment, parents will also be asked to respond to a survey on the mode of learning -- modules or internet -- they prefer for their children during the school year.

San Antonio said some schools already conducted surveys even before the June enrollment.

“Gusto rin po naming i-inform kayo, marami na ang nag-survey, gumawa nitong gagawin ngayong June 1. Sa datos nga namin, may mga paaralan na nakabalik na ‘yung mag-aaral nila,” he said without elaborating.

Classes for the school year will start on August 24. Face-to-face classes, however, are prohibited until a vaccine for COVID-19 is locally available.

According to San Antonio, school administrators will give a schedule when the parents can go to the campus to claim the materials that will be used by the students who do not have gadgets or internet access.

He advised parents to wait for the school's instructions about the enrollment.

“Ang mga paaralan ay nagbigay ng instruction kung paano po makakakuha. Marami po siyempre sa school maaaring mag-pick up. Pero ideally po yung mga wala (gadget, internet), huwag po munang makisabay sa online,” he said. --Joviland Rita/KBK, GMA News