DepEd rejects proposals to postpone classes pending COVID-19 vaccine

Jaehwa Bernardo, ABS-CBN News

<div class="embed-wrap"><figure data-feedback="fb:likes,fb:comments"><img src="http://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2020/tvpatrol/05/21/20200522-cyber-graduation-taguig-jc-6645.jpg"/><figcaption>Robots standing in place of actual students receive graduation certificates during the “cyber-graduation” of Senator Renato &quot;Compañero&quot; Cayetano Memorial Science and Technology High School in Taguig City on May 22, 2020. <em>Jonathan Cellona, ABS-CBN News</em></figcaption></figure></div><p>MANILA – The Department of Education (DepEd) on Monday rejected proposals to postpone the start of the coming school year until a vaccine for the new coronavirus disease has been developed and made available in the country.</p><p>Education Undersecretary Revsee Escobedo said vaccine availability was uncertain but it would be safe to open the school year on August 24 since educators would implement various alternatives to face-to-face learning.</p><p>“Hindi natin alam kung kailan available ‘yong vaccine kasi karamihan sa vaccine...na mayroon tayo ay matagal...nade-develop,” Escobedo told Teleradyo.</p><p>(We don’t know when the vaccine would be available because most vaccines that we have now, took a long time to develop.)</p><p>“Sa tingin namin sa Agosto ay ligtas din po dahil mayroon kaming mga pamamaraan o learning delivery modality,” he said.</p><p>(We think it’s safe to start classes in August because we have different methods or learning delivery modalities.)</p><p>DepEd was also facing concerns over the implementation of alternative learning delivery modes, especially online learning, due to the unreliable and unequal access to the internet.</p><p>The Education official reiterated that students and teachers would not be required to physically return to schools once classes start.</p><figure class="op-interactive"><iframe height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/xL9j5zTdz-0?enablejsapi=1" width="560"></iframe></figure><div class="iwantbar">Watch more in <a href="//www.iwantv.com.ph/">iWantv</a> or <a href="//tfc.tv/">TFC.tv</a></div><p>The conduct of physical classes depends on the health situation of the school’s locality, he said.</p><p>Escobedo added that the decision to move classes from June to August was based on consultations with experts and stakeholders.</p><p>On Sunday, Education Undersecretary Nepomuceno Malaluan said the DepEd would release a set of health standards that schools should follow.</p><ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/05/24/20/deped-to-release-health-standards-in-schools-for-incoming-school-year">DepEd to release health standards in schools for incoming school year</a></li>	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/05/21/20/lawmaker-wants-classes-postponed-until-covid-19-vaccine-available">Lawmaker wants classes postponed until COVID-19 vaccine available</a></li></ul><ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/05/19/20/no-vaccine-no-classes-pagkansela-ng-klase-sa-papasok-na-school-year-dahil-sa-covid-19-hinimok">&#x27;No vaccine, no classes&#x27;: Pagkansela ng klase sa papasok na school year dahil sa COVID-19 hinimok</a></li>	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/05/20/20/teachers-to-deped-reconsider-august-24-school-opening">Teachers to DepEd: Reconsider August 24 school opening</a></li></ul>

<p>The Department of Education (DepEd) on Monday rejected proposals to postpone the start of the coming school year until a vaccine for the new coronavirus disease has been developed and made available in the country.</p>

The Department of Education (DepEd) on Monday rejected proposals to postpone the start of the coming school year until a vaccine for the new coronavirus disease has been developed and made available in the country.

DepEd rejects proposals to postpone classes pending COVID-19 vaccine

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DepEd rejects proposals to postpone classes pending COVID-19 vaccine

Jaehwa Bernardo,

ABS-CBN News

Published May 25, 2020 10:58 PM PHT

|

Updated May 26, 2020 12:50 AM PHT

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