THE DEPARTMENT of Education has clarified that private schools that have already started their classes will be allowed to proceed as long as distance learning modalities are used and maximum health protocols are observed.

“After conferring with the Office of the Executive Secretary on  the applicability of the decision to private schools and other non-DepEd schools, the DepEd hereby clarifies that such private or non-DepEd schools that have already started their classes, or are scheduled to start classes on 24 August or on other dates ahead of 5 October, are allowed to proceed provided they are strictly using only distance learning modalities and that there are no face-to-face classes,” the DepEd stressed.

These schools, the DepEd said, shall submit the relevant documents to the Regional Director as required by DepEd Order No. 7, s. 2020 (School Calendar and Activities for School Year 2020-2021) as well as  DepEd Order No. 13, s. 2020 and DepEd Order No. 17, s. 2020 on readiness assessment.

The education department moved the school opening to October 5 in light of the implications of the imposition of the modified enhanced community quarantine in Metro Manila and in the provinces of Cavite, Laguna, Rizal and Bulacan.

The deferment of school opening is pursuant to Republic Act No. 11480, which amended RA No. 7797, providing that the President, upon the recommendation of the Secretary of Education, may set a date later than the last day of August for the start of the school year in the country or parts thereof in the event of a declaration of a state of emergency or state of calamity.