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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider PH to mark 1st year of school closures due to COVID-19

PH to mark 1st year of school closures due to COVID-19

Published Mar 9, 2021 07:08 pm

The Philippines is set to mark the first year of school closures due to the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic.

President Duterte on March 9, 2020 announced the suspension of classes in all levels at the National Capital Region (NCR) from March 10 to March 14.

Two days after, on March 12, he extended the suspension of classes in Metro Manila up to April 12 as a precautionary measure against the COVID-19.

Following his formal announcement, localized suspension of classes were also declared by local executives in nearby provinces and other areas nationwide due to the threat of COVID-19.

As a response to abrupt suspension of classes, the Department of Education (DepEd) implemented various measures to ensure that the learners will be able to complete the required competencies based on their grade level.

DepEd, in hindsight, said it was a relief that the suspension of classes were declared in March - when the school year is about to end.

Since then, DepEd started planning how to address challenges in the education sector should the public health emergency continues to escalate.

When this announcement was made, the Philippines only has recorded 24 confirmed COVID-19 cases.

A year after, the number of COVID-19 cases has breached the 600,000-mark based on the data released by the Department of Health (DOH) on Tuesday, March 9.

The suspension of classes then was declared to “assess” the overall situation related the novel coronavirus.

However, the conduct of face-to-face classes remained suspended for the rest of the school year (SY) 2019-2020.

Even when the new school year, 2020-2021, opened on October 5, physical classes were prohibited.

To ensure learning continuity, DepEd has crafted a Basic Education Learning Continuity Plan (BE-LCP) where the major component of learning delivery is distance learning.

Currently, the 26.6 million enrollees at the basic education level are under home-based learning wherein their lessons are delivered through various alternative modalities such as modular (printed and offline), online, television and radio-based instructions and blended learning.

With the SY 2020-2021 scheduled to end in July, the opening of the new school year is expected to be adjusted as well - including the delivery learning options and modalities for the students.

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