The Department of Education has issued new guidelines for the school year 2022-2023 classes: appeal for postponement

 The Department of Education has issued new guidelines for the school year 2022-2023 classes: appeal for postponement

The new guidelines on the school calendar and activities for school year 2022–2023 are to be adjusted when there are some concerning issues, particularly with regard to the vacation of teachers. The vacation of teachers is only a few days because of the enrichment classes, which will be scheduled on July 25, 2022, and will end on August 12, 2022. The teachers’ request to move the opening of classes due to these new guidelines.

On July 12, 2022 the Department of Education (DepEd) released the new guidelines on the School Calendar and Activities for School Year 2022-2023 in line with its commitment to continue 5 days of in-person classes. Vice President and Secretary Sara Z. Duterte signed on Monday, DepEd Order No. 034, series of 2022, sets the class to start on August 22 and end on July 7, 2023. 

There will be 203 school days or so. An additional release is determined in case there are changes to the school calendar due to unforeseen circumstances. Upon release, DepEd also provides direction and guidance on the reopening of classes and the gradual introduction of 5 days of in-person learning modality classes.

According to DO 034, s. 2022, no inspections, equipment, or any additional requirements to reopen schools and implement five (5) days of personal classes are required, other than compliance with standard pre-pandemic regulatory permits and licenses, as required by law or ordinance. DepEd has only prescribed the options of 5 days of in-person classes, blended learning modality, and full distance learning until October 31, 2022.

Beginning November 2, 2022, all public and private schools must switch to 5 days of personal classes. No school will be able to use pure distance learning or blended learning unless they use Alternative Delivery Modes as described in DO 21, s. 2019 (Policy Guidelines for the K–12 Basic Education Program) and DO 01, s. 2022 (Revised Policy Guidelines for the Home Schooling Program).

Under DepEd Order No. 001, s. 2022-Revised Policy Guidelines on Homeschooling Program stated that

1. The enclosed Revised Policy Guidelines on Homeschooling Program is issued by the Department of Education (DepEd). This is consistent with its mandate to establish, maintain, and support a complete, adequate, and integrated system of education relevant to the needs of the people and society (Article XIV, Section 2.2, 1987 Philippine Constitution), and guided by the constitutional directive to support the natural and primary right and duty of parents in the rearing of the youth for civic efficiency and the development of moral character (Article II, Sec. 12, 1987 Philippines Constitution).

2. The Homeschooling Program is designed as one of the Alternative Delivery Modes (ADMs) that may be offered by any public or private school as a response to the needs of learners who cannot regularly report to school due to medical conditions, family situations, and difficult circumstances that require more regular parental support and supervision, and for learners whose parents opt to be educated at home by themselves. It also actualizes Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) No.4, which aims to ensure inclusive and equitable quality education with parents taking full responsibility for the education of their children.

3. The homeschooling program offers families flexibility in deciding and addressing their children’s access issues and provides an opportunity for them to contribute to making the curriculum learner-centered, inclusive, developmentally appropriate, responsive, and relevant while applying pedagogical approaches that are constructivist, inquiry-based, reflective, collaborative, and integrative (Section 5, Republic Act No. 10533 or the Enhanced Basic Education Act).

4. This policy provides substantive guidance on the implementation of the homeschooling program and discusses its underlying principles, objectives, and target learners. It also defines the program’s standards, which include program management; the curriculum; learning delivery modalities; parent/guardian as learning facilitator; learning resources; learning environment; and classroom assessment to be used. Implementation protocols and procedures are also described to guide field implementation.

Under DepEd Order No. 21, s.2019, this policy aims to:                                                         

• Explain the K-12 curriculum and the programs for each key stage; describe the learner and his/her capabilities at each key stage; and show the curriculum, instruction, and assessment for each key stage;
• Establish the components required to ensure effective implementation of the curriculum;
• Create the framework that will be used for monitoring and evaluation.
• Create frameworks for the various dimensions of the K-12 Curriculum; and
• Guide the central, regional, and school division offices and schools in efficiently organizing and managing the implementation of the K to 12 Basic Education Program.

Enrollment will be held from July 25 to August 22, and Brigada Eskwela and Oplan Balik Eskwela programs will be conducted from August 1 to 26 and on August 15, respectively. Read the full details on the rules of D.O. Number 034, series, 2022.

In these new guidelines, the teachers have a short time to rest. Even though the teachers are on vacation, the principal would chat with their group to report to school for a meeting and some reports to comply with because even on vacation, the teachers have many reports to do. The opening of classes in the new guidelines is so close that the teachers need to report to prepare their classrooms. When can the teachers enjoy their short vacation?

Teachers’ request to the new secretary, VP Sara Duterte, to allow teachers to spend their vacation. They need to unwind and relax for many things they do in school during classes or holidays and weekends. We hope that these new guidelines will not be final. The new guidelines could be changed as long as VP Sara Duterte grants the teachers’ request to move the class by the middle of September.

The new guidelines are simply the framework; they are subject to change if the new secretary, VP Sara, can clearly see how worn out the teachers are from blended learning. The new guidelines serve as the foundation for school activities, and VP Sara’s consideration of the teachers’ request will be gratefully appreciated by them.

To enable the teachers to restore energy for the upcoming classes, the opening of classes under the new guidelines needs to be adjusted. Without rest, teachers will become physically exhausted. So many diseases are formed in the body because of a lack of rest, it causes stress. Allow the teachers to spend their brief break with their loved ones.