By Gabriela Baron
The resumption of face-to-face classes after two years was “a success,” the Department of Education (DepEd) said.
Over 28 million learners returned to in-person classes on Monday, Aug. 22.
“Isang malaking tagumpay para sa kabataang Pilipino ang muling pagsisimula ng in-person learning… Isang hakbang na buong tapang na ginawa ng Department of Education sa kabila ng hamon at takot na dala ng COVID-19 pandemic,” Vice President and Education Secretary Sara Duterte said.
“Our shared dedication, our shared strength as a nation, and our shared aspirations for children and our country has brought us all here today, and today we are making things possible for our children and for our country,” Duterte added.
Meanwhile, DepEd Spokesperson Michael Poa urged parents to enroll their children in the Alternative Learning System (ALS) through digital and/or physical platforms established by schools and Community Learning Centers (CLCs) within the barangays.
“Hinikayat natin ang ating mga magulang na i-enroll na ‘yung mga hindi nakakapag-enroll na anak para maihanda natin [nang tuluy-tuloy] ang ating mga paaralan base sa actual number of learners this year,” Poa said.
Poa maintained that there were “no serious issues” at the start of the new school year, citing the reports of the regional directors.
“To echo our Vice President and Secretary’s message, when we say we are ready for classes, we are not saying that there will be no problems, we expect many challenges but as Filipinos we will be resilient. We will overcome. We will not break,” he added. -ag
