The Department of Education (DepEd) on Monday, Oct. 17, issued an order allowing private schools to continue offering learning options to their students, starting November 2.
The DepEd Order (DO) No. 4 now allows private schools to continue to implement any of the following: five days of in-person classes, blended learning modality, and full distance learning.
For blended learning, private schools are allowed to hold three days of in-person classes and two days of distance learning; and/or four days of in-person classes and one-day distance learning.
The DO No. 4 amended the DO no. 34 s. 2022 that earlier required all schools, both private and public, to implement full in-person classes by November 2.
The department said it recognized the private sector's current situation due to the pandemic, citing their amount of investment in learning technologies; development and institutionalization of best practices on blended learning; and the unfortunate closure of small private schools due to losses.
“DepEd will leave the discussion on the learning modality to be implemented by private education institutions to the schools, the parents/guardians, and the learners. DepEd, however, hopes that parents/guardians of private school learners would not miss the abundance of scientific studies available on the advantages of in-person classes over online learning,“ it said.
Meanwhile, all public schools are still mandated to transition to 5-days in-person classes.
DepEd pointed out it is “undisputable fact“ that face-to-face classes remain the “best option for basic education“, based on several studies.
“After the said date, no public school shall be allowed to implement purely distance learning or blended learning,“ DepEd said.
However, exemptions are given to those public schools that are:
- expressly provided an exemption by the Regional Director;
- those whose classes are automatically canceled due to disaster and calamities;
- those implementing Alternative Delivery Modes, as provided for in DO 021 s. 2019, titled Policy guidelines on the K to 12 Basic Education Program and DO 001, s. 2022 titled Revised Policy Guidelines on Homeschooling Program
The education department said a separate memorandum order containing the full list of exemptions from the full 5-days face-to-face classes would be issued by the Regional Director soon.
It said that all other provisions stated under the order shall remain effective “unless otherwise amended by other DepEd issuance.“
“Immediate dissemination of and strict compliance with this order is directed,“ DepEd noted.
