DepEd coordinating with DPWH to ensure schools are ready for class opening

The Department of Education (DepEd) is coordinating with the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) to make sure that schools are ready for the start of School Year 2022–2023 on August 22.

In a radio interview on Tuesday, DepEd spokesperson Atty. Michael Tan Poa was asked about the agency’s preparations in addressing the possible lack of classrooms and schools a month before the resumption of classes.

“Sa ngayon, we are really coordinating po… there will be an inter-agency coordination. Tulad na rin ng sabi ng Pangulo sa SONA, we will be coordinating closely with DPWH to ensure na ready ang ating mga paaralan, mga eskwela lalo na sa imprastraktura,” he said.

(Right now, we are really coordinating... there will be an inter-agency coordination. As the President also said in the SONA, we will be coordinating closely with the DPWH to ensure that our schools are ready especially in terms of infrastructure.)

Poa said there are some things that still need to be laid out with the DPWH in preparation for the upcoming academic year.

“Although there are preparations that were done, sa ngayon po talaga, alam natin and we recognize na may konting kulang pa. That’s why we're still coordinating with the DPWH to ensure na hindi tayo mabibigla sa pagbabalik ng in-person classes natin,” he added.

(Although there are preparations that were done, we recognize that there are still gaps. That's why we're still coordinating with the DPWH to ensure that we will not be caught surprised by the return of in-person classes.)

During his first State of the Nation Address (SONA) on Monday, President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. said it is time for students to return to full face-to-face classes.

"We must ensure that our classrooms are safe for teachers, for students, and the entire academic community when they return to face-to-face classes,” Marcos had said.

For her part, Vice President and Education Secretary Sara Duterte on Monday said the DepEd would collaborate with the national and local governments, private sector, and international partners to increase investments in education.

The School Year 2022-2023 will open on August 22 and will end on July 7, 2023.

The DepEd said schools will only be allowed to hold blended learning schedules and full-distance learning until October 31, while starting November 2, all public and private schools should have transitioned to five days of in-person classes.

For the first day of enrollment, the DepEd reported Monday that over 2.8 million students all over the country have registered for the incoming school year. The enrollment period will be from July 25 to August 22. —KBK, GMA News