MANILA — The Department of Education (DepEd) said Monday it will prepare students psychosocially to help them adjust to the new learning environment caused by the coronavirus pandemic.

Education Secretary Leonor Briones said teachers are undergoing briefings to help students adjust psychosocially after the pandemic has forced schools to move away from the traditional in-person classes.

"The first week [of classes] will be largely focusing on psychosocial preparation of the learners," she said in a virtual press briefing.

"This will have a profound impact. Our learners are not going to learn the way you were taught or the way I was taught," she added.

The department earlier set the start of the school year to Aug. 24, but schools that want to start classes as early as June will be allowed as long as they do not hold "face-to-face" learning.

• Classes may start earlier than August but no 'face-to-face' learning: DepEd

The DepEd has given schools the freedom to choose which learning delivery mode to implement, depending on the public health situation in their localities and available resources.