THE DEPARTMENT of Education supported the decision of President Rodrigo Duterte not to allow children aged 10-14 years old residing in modified general community quarantine areas to go outside their houses.

Education Secretary Leonor Briones said that the President has the power to decide on such matters.

“Wala kaming problema riyan [o] agam-agam. Naiintindihan namin dahil noong ginawa ang desisyon na ‘yan ‘di pa natin nakita kung gaano ka-seryoso ang threat ng mga pag-develop, paglabas ng mga bagong variants ng Covid19,” she added.

Briones said her department continues to implement measures to ease the burden of learners at home.

“Ang ginawa natin sa Department of Education ‘yong tinatawag nating academic ease. Pinaluwagan natin ‘yong mga requirements dahil nagbigay ng feedback ang parents at mga bata na naninibago sila sa dami ng mga assignments, so iyon ang ginagawa natin, ‘yong academic ease,” she explained.

These measures include giving more time to allow students to finish and submit requirements and expansion of mental health/socio-emotional well-being support to teachers, learners, and parents through group wellness sessions.

DepEd also expressed its readiness to implement the pilot implementation of limited face-to-face classes should the health situation in the country improve.

“Kung maayos na natin itong ating health issues, kasi primordial iyong protection ng mga bata, ay puwede na nating i-apply iyong ating binabalak, for example, na pilot studies [of face-to-face classes],” the DepEd chief shared.

“Binabantayan natin kung ano ang developments hinggil sa Covid at saka ang desisyon ng Presidente tungkol sa pag-protect ng ating mga bata at ng ating mga teachers. So, mahirap magsabi ngayon kasi ang nagdi-determine largely as I said is the state of danger or threat that Covid still poses to our children and to our teachers,” Briones said.