DepEd eyes holding classes in Batangas 6 days a week as “catch up” measure

January 28, 2020

The Department of Education ( DepEd) is eyeing to implement a modified school calendar as "catch up" measure for areas affected by the eruption of Taal Volcano, which resulted in class suspensions.

In a press briefing in Malacañang, DepEd Secretary Leonor Briones said they hope to resume classes in in Batangas, except in Agoncillo and Laurel, and other areas in Region IV-A by February 3.

Authorities have not yet allowed residents in Agoncillo and Laurel to return to their homes despite lowering the alert status of the Taal Volcano to Level 3.

From February 3 until March 31, under the proposed modified school calendar, school days will be from Monday to Saturday and on April 1-6, including Saturday and Sunday.

"We also recommended as early as—that by February 3, classes in Batangas that are reasonably distant from Taal can resume on February 3. But yesterday, already (Batangas) Governor (Hermilando) Mandanas of Batangas already issued an order for return to work and where suspensions are still on going. We would be preparing for a possible opening of classes by February 3," she said.

  "So, in anticipation of the return of our children to their homes, because the schools are their homes, we have proposed a modified school calendar...we hope that we will be able to complete the required number of schools days face to face interaction by April," Briones added.

She said there were calls from some graduating students to allow them to graduate even if they did not complete the required number of school days.

But she said, "we have replied that they have to comply with the requirements, because this is a requirement of law."

"So, we have a post modified school calendar which will enable the affected schools to catch up and so, this is what we are saying, happily, the Phivolcs (Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology) on whom we rely for information on the developments in Taal has lowered the alert level to Signal 3," Briones said.

She said DepEd would look in the downgrading of volcano alert level not as a complete relief but as a "breathing space and opportunity to catch up with what is lacking to clean up and so on."

Since the eruption of Taal on January 12, classes in primary and seconday levels, both public and private schools, in Batangas have been suspended.

Some of the schools have been used as evacuation centers for the displaced families. Celerina Monte/DMS