THE DEPARTMENT of Education stressed that the incoming school year is open to all students.

“The beauty of our approach is that we have options available for everyone, hindi lang para sa may laptop o may cellphone ang bagong school year,” said DepEd Undersecretary Alain Pascua.

He clarified that there are teaching modes aside from gadgets that will be used when classes open.

DepEd, however, recognizes the need for students to have the right equipment under the ‘new normal’ education.

In April, the Office of the Undersecretary released Memorandum 00-0420-0029 authorizing school heads to release desktop computers, laptops, tablet PCs and smartphones to teachers for online classes amid the Covid19 pandemic

In July, Memorandum 00-0720-0063 was released authorizing “schools to issue stand-alone desktops, laptops and tablet PCs to be borrowed by learners for temporary use in online subjects”.

DepEd is geared towards providing equipment, such as laptops, for all public school teachers.

Classes start on August 24. The new learning modes will depend on access of the students and teachers to materials.