As it marked the last day of school in public schools on Friday, July 9, an official of the Department of Education (DepEd) recognized the efforts of all stakeholders including parents, learners, and teachers for making the school year (SY) 2020-2021 possible.

“We acknowledge the overwhelming support of our stakeholders in efforts to ensure learning continuity for the youngsters of our country,” DepEd Undersecretary for Curriculum and Instruction Diosdado San Antonio told the Manila Bulletin.

Based on the adjusted school calendar of DepEd for SY 2020-2021, the last day of classes is on July 10 - which falls on a Saturday. Despite the ongoing coronavirus disease (COVID-19) situation in the country, DepEd was able to open a new school year on Oct. 5, 2020.

For the first time, over 26 million students in both public and private schools at the basic education level continued their education at home. DepEd implemented multiple learning delivery modalities such as modular (printed and offline), online learning, television and radio-based learning and blended learning which is a combination of two or more modalities.

Since learning delivery required the involvement at the local level, San Antonio also recognized the participation and assistance of local government units (LGUs), non-government organizations, private sector and other partners of DepEd.

“Our local government executives, parents, development partners and NGOs have come forward to make Bayanihan real in DepEd,” San Antonio said.

Most importantly, San Antonio also recognized the personnel of DepEd who served as education frontliners who went beyond and above the call of their duty just to ensure that learning will continue amidst the pandemic.

“We also acknowledge the initiatives of school officials and fellow teachers in providing creative responses to the challenges faced in contextualizing the Learning Continuity Plan,” he added.