Despite the challenges of blended learning, Malacañang urged parents to enroll their children this coming School Year 2021-2022, saying their kids may not be able to take part in possible face-to-face classes if population protection will be achieved.
Presidential Spokesman Harry Roque made the statement as the enrollment for the upcoming school year kicked off on August 16.
In his press briefing on Monday, August 16, Roque believed that blended learning due to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic will not cause the number of enrolees this year to go down.
"Hindi po (We don't think so)," Roque said.
"Inaasahan natin na ang mga magulang ay magnanais na bagamat may pandemya, tuloy-tuloy po ang edukasyon ng ating mga kabataan (We expect that despite the pandemic, parents would want the education of their children to continue)," he added.
The Palace official said that children who are not enrolled this year may not be allowed to participate in the possible resumption of in-person classes if population protection would be achieved.
He reminded parents that President Duterte was only waiting for population protection before giving face-to-face classes the green light. Population protection refers to the vaccination of those who are susceptible to COVID-19 and are likely to show severe symptoms.
"'Pag hindi kayo nag-enroll at nagkaroon na tayo ng population protection, baka hindi rin kayo makasali sa face-to-face. So kinakailangan i-enroll natin ang ating mga chikiting (If your kids are not enrolled and we achieve population protection, then you may not be able to take part in face-to-face classes)," Roque said.
"Ang gusto lang naman ni Presidente, eh magkaroon ng sapat na populasyon na mabakunahan at baka naman po susubukan din natin ang mga face-to-face (What the President wanted was to have many people vaccinated and we will try having in-person classes again)," he added.
"So, enroll po tayo, hindi naman po forever ang blended learning. May katapusan din po itong pandemyang ito (So let us enroll our children because blended learning is not forever. This pandemic will have an end)," he continued.
Last month, President Duterte approved the September 13, 2021 opening date for School Year 2021-2022. The Department of Education (DepEd) said face-to-face classes will remain prohibited for the coming school year due to the threat of COVID-19.
The incoming school year will end on June 24, 2022, or a total of 209 school days inclusive of Saturdays and the five-day midyear break.
Meanwhile, some private schools and state/local universities and colleges (SUCs/LUCs) offering basic education have already started their classes.