By Joseph B.A. Marzan
The Department of Education-Region 6 (DepEd-6) said parents may now enroll their children through other means as physical transactions have been prohibited for the early enrollment for School Year 2020-2021, which starts today, June 1, 2020.
DepEd Memorandum Order No. 008 s.2020 prohibited ‘face-to-face’ transactions from June 1 to June 15, 2020, due to the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic.
In an interview with Aksyon Radyo Iloilo, DepEd-6 spokesperson Lea Belleza said that the agency has allowed other modes of enrollment to ensure flexibility amid COVID-19.
Parents may enroll their children through text, chat, phone call, e-mail or Viber from June 1 to June 30.
“Teachers will facilitate the children’s enrollment. Their previous year’s advisers have records and contact numbers of their pupils and students. They must reach out to the children if they will still enroll, or transfer, or whatever their whereabouts may be. Parents may also confirm their attendance to the teachers,” Belleza said.
Belleza also said that starting third week of June, schools will also set up a booth where parents can pick up their children’s requirements.
DepEd Secretary Leonor Briones had been adamant with pushing of opening classes for the incoming school year on August 24, 2020.
ACCESSIBILITY
Belleza also addressed concerns from parents and local government units regarding the accessibility of educational services.
Secretary Briones had earlier suggested other modes of learning delivery, such as through online distance learning, modular learning, and mass media partnerships.
Belleza said that activities may be sent through different modes.
“Our options will be modular, online, TV-based instruction, radio-based instruction through the closest barangay, or maybe a combination of modular and online, or anything that will suit the capacities of schools and learners,” she said.
