Education Secretary Leonor Briones on Wednesday said the opening of classes in public schools would proceed on Aug. 24.
“August 24 magbubukas na ng klase — whatever form it is,” Briones said in a Malacañang meeting with President Rodrigo Duterte and Cabinet members.
Amid the Covid-19 pandemic, Briones said she was confident learning could still be delivered through online and offline methods.
“Kasi pwedeng mag-online, pwedeng mag-offline, pwedeng radio, pwedeng television at kung wala talaga, if all of the above wala, ‘yung tinatawag nating IBM or ‘it’s better manual,'” she added.
Face-to-face classes in low-risk modified general quarantine areas was a possibility, Briones said.
Briones said the Department of Education was considering allowing up to 10 persons per classroom for those without access to online learning modes, in accordance with minimum health standards set by the government.
As of Thursday morning, 20,744,595 students have enrolled in public and private schools nationwide.
The enrollment window ended on July 15, but late enrollees will be accommodated until September. John Ezekiel J. Hirro