Department of Education spokesperson Michael Poa said Tuesday that it’s all systems go for the reopening of schools across the country on 22 August.
“Tuloy tuloy na ang pagbabalik eskwela sa August 22,” Poa said during a press briefing in Malacañang.
“Our learners are excited to return to in-person classes,” he added. Some 13.152 million enrolled learners will resume face-to-face classes in the new schoolyear.
To allay health concerns, DepEd Secretary and Vice President Sara Duterte has given explicit instructions to DepEd regional offices to coordinate with regional offices of the Department of Health (DOH) “para makapag-roll out ng counseling for unvaccinated and mobile vaccines,” said Poa.
DepEd will continue to implement a non-discriminatory policy for learners as well as teaching and non-teaching personnel when it comes to vaccination.
“Walang separate guidelines for those vaccinated and unvaccinated individuals; voluntary pa rin ang paningin natin sa vaccination,” explained Poa.
Dr. Anna Lisa Ong-Lim of the DOH said that as students resume face-to-face classes, compliance with minimum public health standards should continue to be observed.
In areas in Northern Luzon recently hit by a 7.0 earthquake, students will be provided with temporary learning spaces while DepEd said it will ask the Department of Budget and Management for additional funds to repair damaged schools and facilities.