THE DEPARTMENT of Education said it will not postpone the opening of classes.

“Tuloy na tuloy na tayo. Wala nang atrasan. August 22, 2022 ang opening of classes natin this year,” DepEd Spokesperson Michael Poa said.

Groups like the Teachers’ Dignity Coalition urged the education department to move the start of the new school year to mid-September, claiming that the current schedule did not provide teachers enough time to recover from the previous school year.

However, Poa said that “many” volunteers have taken part in the Brigada Eskwela initiative which prepared schools for the upcoming school year.

Poa also cited Republic Act 7797 which forbids to start the school year beyond August.

Meanwhile, DepEd will begin the construction of temporary learning spaces for quake-hit schools.

“We are also in contact with [local government units] para sa spaces na hindi nila nagagamit or hindi naman usually nagagamit, baka puwede ipahiram muna as temporary learning spaces,” Poa said.