Students, parents slam DepEd decision to open classes in August

Sofia Virtudes

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Students, parents slam DepEd decision to open classes in August
One netizen questions how the department expects students to enroll by August, when the income of a lot of families is affected by the pandemic

MANILA, Philippines – The Department of Education (DepEd) just declared it would open the school year 2020-2021 on August 24, and students and parents were not happy.

On Tuesday, May 5, Education Secretary Leonor Briones said that, while the school year would open on the said date, it does not necessarily demand that students and teachers physically report to school. It is highly likely though that classes would be held online for areas under enhanced community quarantine (ECQ), she said. 

After Briones announced the decision during the Laging Handa press briefing, netizens took to social media to lambast the department’s move, with “DepEd” eventually landing a spot on Twitter trending topics within the next hour.

One netizen questioned how the department would expect students to enroll by August, when the income of a lot of families had been affected by the pandemic.

 

Meanwhile on Facebook, parents and even teachers expressed their dismay over DepEd’s decision, saying starting the classes in August could mean putting at risk their children’s lives, as well as the safety of the family.

A public school teacher shared that majority of her students would struggle, particularly in terms of access, if their only alternative would be an online classroom setup.

Some, however, defended the department’s decision, and argued that delaying classes further could bear long-term consequences.

Here’s what others had to say on the matter:

 

Briones said the decision on how the classes would be conducted lies with the Inter-Agency Task Force, and would depend on the status of the pandemic by then.

What are your thoughts on DepEd’s decision? Sound off in the comments. – Rappler.com

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Sofia Virtudes

Sofia Virtudes is a former digital communications specialist for Rappler.