DepEd: Classes to end on June 16, 2021

The Department of Education on Monday adjusted the school calendar for School Year 2020-2021 wherein classes will start on October 5, 2020 and end on June 16, 2021.

According to the DepEd, the Christmas break, meanwhile, will be from December 20, 2020 to January 3, 2021.

The DepEd earlier announced that President Rodrigo Duterte has approved its recommendation to move the opening of S.Y. 2020-2021 from August 24 to October 5 amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

Secretary Leonor Briones said they submitted the recommendation to Duterte last August 6 after Metro Manila, Cavite, Bulacan, Laguna and Rizal were reverted to modified enhanced community quarantine (MECQ).

Briones reiterated that there will still be no face-to-face learning to ensure the safety of students and school staff despite the deferment of the school opening.

She added this will be the final adjustment to the school opening.

Meanwhile, the DepEd clarified in an advisory that private schools may start their classes before October 5 as long as only distance learning modalities will be implemented and that there will be no face-to-face classes.

Enrollment still ongoing

Briones also said parents who want to enroll their children for the upcoming school year may still do so as schools were allowed to accept late enrollees.

So far, she said enrollees in the country reached 23.3 million.

“Everyday, patuloy pa rin ang late enrollees. Ibig sabihin ang mga parents ay buo ang tiwala sa DepEd,” she said.

Moreover, Briones said dry runs will continue until October.

“All systems go tayo for October 5. Mayroong nakaumpisa na, hindi natin ‘yan pipigilan lalo na sa private schools. Sumunod lang sila sa atas ng presidente na sundin ang requirements ng DOH,” she said.

“Gawin natin ang lahat ng paraan ng pang-motivate sa mga bata para hindi mawala ang interes nila sa pag-aaral dahil sa tagal na wala silang pasok,” she added. —Ma. Angelica Garcia/KBK, GMA News