The Department of Education (DepEd) said that summer classes for school year 2021-2021 will still push through, but will be adjusted based on the changes made on the current school calendar.
“Ma-adjust yan (This will be adjusted),” DepEd Undersecretary for Curriculum and Instruction Diosdado San Antonio told the Manila Bulletin when asked what will happen to the scheduled summer classes this year after the agency extended the school calendar.
“Pinag-uusapan pa ang adjustments (We’re still talking about the adjustments),” he added. Remedial, advancement, and enrichment sessions are usually held for students who need these during summer classes.
Based on the School Calendar and Activities for SY 2020-2021 or DepEd Order No. 030 series of 2020 issued by Education Secretary Leonor Briones on Oct. 2, students are expected to attend Summer Classes starting June 14 until July 23 which is scheduled as the last day or end of the activity.
However, Briones amended the school calendar and activities for this school year through DepEd Order No. 012 s. 2021 issued this week.
Among the highlights of the amended school calendar include the intervention and remediation activities for learners from March 1 to 12 and the In-Service Training (INSET) for teachers from March 15 to 19.
Another highlight of the amended school calendar is the adjustment of the remaining quarters wherein the start of Quarter 3 will be on March 22 to May 15, 2021. The start of Quarter 4 will be on May 17 to July 10, 2021.
DepEd said that these changes were made to allow schools to implement “intensive intervention and remediation” activities for learners and to give teachers more time to adjust for the different learning delivery modalities.
Classes for this school year officially started in public schools nationwide on Oct. 5 after two postponements due to the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) situation in the country.
Originally, the SY 2020-2021 was scheduled to start on June 1 but it was moved to Aug. 24. This schedule was once postponed after President Duterte approved DepEd’s recommendation to defer school opening to October pursuant to Republic Act (RA) No. 11480.
Signed in July 2020, the said law gives the President power to move the school opening past August due to calamities upon the recommendation of the DepEd Secretary.
DepEd has yet to announce when the upcoming school year, 2021-2022, will open.