DepEd official urges students to wear uniform, appropriate clothing during online classes

An official of the Department of Education (DepEd) urged students to wear their school uniforms or appropriate clothing when attending online classes.

This is to prevent incidents of bullying, DepEd Region 7 director Dr. Salustiano Jimenez said, according to a report by GMA Regional TV Balitang Bisdak aired on GMA News' Unang Balita on Tuesday.

"To prevent from bullying na mangyayari, ini-encourage na dahil nasa platform ka na online, puwede lang magbihis ng angkop sa klase," he said.

In a statement, DepEd Secretary Leonor Briones clarified that wearing school uniforms for online classes is not required.

“Even before the pandemic, it is not a strict requirement for public schools to wear uniform (DepEd Order No. 065, s. 2010) to avoid incurring additional cost to the families of our learners,” she said.

“With face-to-face classes prohibited, learners are welcome to wear their most comfortable and appropriate clothes while learning at the safe confines of their homes.” 

Jimenez also said online classes still have a classroom setting, thus the teacher and students could all be seen.

Students and teachers alike should thus wear appropriate clothing, he added.

The school year 2020-2021 will start on August 24. 

“Ang pagbubukas ng eskuwelahan ay August 24. Ito ay blended learning. Walang face to face. At sa mga lugar na may risk assessment galing sa IATF, susundin natin ang kanilang patakaran,” DepEd Secretary Leonor Briones said on Monday.

The DepEd secretary earlier said school officials in areas with low risk for COVID-19 infections can apply for limited face-to-face classes.

The requests of school officials will be approved by the regional directors and will be under the review of the DepEd, she added.

Briones noted that the ‘starting point’ of the application for limited face-to-face classes will depend on the assessment of Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF), if the concerned areas are classified as low risk. —KG/KBK, GMA News