676 private schools to temporarily close operations amid COVID-19 pandemic —DepEd

A total of 676 private schools in the country will be temporarily shutting down their operations this school year amid the COVID-19 pandemic, a Department of Education official said Wednesday.

In a press conference, DepEd Undersecretary Jess Mateo noted that these schools moved their opening of operations to next year.

“Ang exact number is 676 schools expressing that they will not open for the school year,” Mateo said.

“Temporary closure lang sila pero kung maganda-ganda next year, magbubukas na sila. Ang dahilan po ay ang pag-transfer ng enrollees, as well as the teachers,” he added.

DepEd Secretary Leonor Briones expressed optimism that the private schools will change their plan considering the economy is already improving.

“I am anticipating that they might also consider their position dahil nag-improve na ang economy. Ang major  talaga na reason na binigay is ‘yung migration ng students and teachers,” she said.

“So kung meron solusyon at saka mag-improve ang economy baka magbago din sila ng kanilang pananaw,” she added.

In July, DepEd reported that 250,000 students from private schools had already transferred to public schools.

Due to the COVID-19 threat, the DepEd decided to resume classes through blended learning, where students do not have to physically go to school to participate in classes to avoid possible transmission of the virus.

It also removed around 60% of the curriculum to adjust for the remote learning approach this coming school year, which was moved from August 24 to October 5.

The department has been preparing for ways to deliver education to students through self-learning modules, broadcast media, and the internet.—AOL, GMA News