The Department of Education on Monday declared the start of School Year 2021-2022 a success despite challenges amid the pandemic.

“Today, September 13, 2021, DepEd and the rest of the country celebrates with great joy in success in opening classes for the second year at the time of Covid19,” DepEd Secretary Leonor Briones said.

“Last year we opened classes, and we successfully ended them. Now we are opening another school year. Isn’t that success worthy of celebration?” she added.

Briones admitted that the challenges this school year are greater than last year.

“The challenges we are facing now are even tougher than those we battled last year. Nonetheless, 24,603,822 million learners have returned to schools and we expect even more to enlist for late enrollment,” she said.

While DepEd lamented the drop in enrollment in private schools, Briones stressed that “there is much success to celebrate and build on.”

“We did what was considered impossible in five months. We translated printed material into TV, radio, cell phone, tablet – and yes, utilized walkie-talkies for remote schools,” she said.

“We prepared learning facilities and distributed gadgets with the help of LGUs, national agencies like Bureau of Customs of the Department of Finance, multilateral and bilateral partners, as well as business and civil society organizations,” she added.

The education chief lauded the government for increasing the salaries and benefits of teachers and non-teaching staff.

“Never have our teachers been as well protected and better paid as now. Covid19 has triggered work arrangements, including so-called skeletal office structures,” she said.

“This has not prevented us from ensuring that even with a lean administrative staff, we always see to it that our people are always paid in a timely manner, including additional benefits,” she added.