Pres. Duterte signed a law that can reschedule starting of classes

President Rodrigo Duterte has signed into law a measure that will allow the chief executive to move or reschedule the start of the school year in an event of a state of emergency or state of calamity.

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The President signed on July 17 Republic Act No. 11480 which amends Republic Act 7797 which mandates the opening of classes between the first Monday of June until the last day of August.

However, moving the Aug. 24 opening of classes would still depend on the recommendation of Education Secretary Leonor Briones.

According to Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque during a Palace press briefing, the new law certainly gives flexibility to the executive department if they think that more time is needed before returning to schools.

But for now, the government will keep the Aug. 24 opening of classes even after the President signed into law the new measure, Roque said.

Roque added that the decision for now is still Aug. 24. Unless there is a new recommendation from the education secretary, there might be no changes in the school opening.

In a phone interview, Education Secretary Briones said the opening of classes was still scheduled on Aug. 24 despite the new law.

DepEd said it will implement a blended learning program where learning modules, television, radio and the internet are utilized as media of instruction. And, there are proposals to conduct limited face-to-face classes in areas under the most lenient lockdown measure and with low coronavirus cases.