ADVERTISEMENT
DepEd lacks authority to shut down OVP’s community learning hubs — Briones
By VIRGIL LOPEZ, GMA NewsEducation Secretary Leonor Briones said Friday her department lacked authority to shut down the community learning hubs set up by the Office of Vice President Leni Robredo even as the Cabinet official insisted that the project is not sanctioned by the agency.
“Wala kaming awtoridad na patawan ng parusa or anuman ang OVP dahil wala iyan sa aming mandate sa Department of Education. Iba sigurong ahensiya ng gobyerno ang tumitingin diyan,” Briones said at a televised briefing.
There are currently 12 community learning hubs in Luzon and the Visayas
where students can get free access to computers, gadgets, equipment, internet and tutors.However, the DepEd said they did not give consent to the project due to President Rodrigo Duterte’s policy against holding face-to-face classes
ADVERTISEMENT
Robredo’s spokesperson Barry Gutierrez responded by claiming that the department did not oppose the establishment of the hubs and even thought it was a good initiative.
He also said the hubs are not meant to be sites for classroom or face-to-face instruction.
Briones pointed to a possible “miscommunication” between the DepEd and the OVP over the matter.
“Mukhang nagkaroon ng miscommunication pero may exchange of letters kami which we have made public dahil pinadala naman namin iyon sa Presidente at walang phrase or word na nagsasabi na you are authorized to proceed with your program,” she said.
“Ang sagot namin doon ay humingi kami ng description, further explanations, etcetera but hindi kami nagbibigay ng permiso dahil alam namin ang pronouncement ng Presidente.”
Gutierrez said on Thursday that the OVP will reassess whether to continue the project following the DepEd’s response. — RSJ, GMA News