By Merlina Hernando-Malipot
Millions of students nationwide are expected to troop back to their respective schools as classes in the country’s public schools under the Department of Education (DepEd) resume today, January 3.
Based on the adjusted school calendar of DepEd, students in kinder, elementary and secondary public schools across the country are scheduled to go back to school today after the Christmas vacation which started December 15.
The resumption of classes in public schools was initially scheduled on January 2, 2019 but Malacanang issued Memorandum Circular No. 54 signed by Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea suspending government work and schools on the said date.
Education Secretary Leonor Briones issued DepEd Memorandum No. 193 series of 2018 to DepEd undersecretaries, assistant secretaries, bureau and service directors, regional directors, schools division superintendents, ARMM regional secretary, and public and private elementary and secondary school heads dated December 19, 2018 leaving to the discretion of private school administrators the resumption of classes and work.
Private schools, as per DepEd, are also allowed to make adjustments in their school calendar as long as the 200 days required for school days and 187 days contact time for teachers and learners is met. These schools are also encouraged to inform the DepEd of any changes in their respective school calendars.
Meanwhile, classes in schools – particularly in Bicol region that were affected by Tropical Depression Usman – remain suspended on Thursday and Friday, January 3 to 4 due to flooding. In Camarines Sur, for instance, classes in all levels for both public and private will resume on January 7.
DepEd data showed that there are 26.7 million learners enrolled in both public and private schools for School Year (SY) 2018-2019. Around 22 million of this number learners in public schools across all basic education levels.