DAVAO CITY — The Senate on Monday approved on third and final reading a bill which give President Rodrigo Duterte the authority to postpone the opening of classes beyond August during the state of calamity or emergency.
Senate Bill No. 1541 was supported by the 23 of the 24 Senators during the June 1 session, just two days before the Lower House takes a break.
The bill reads “The school year shall start on the first Monday of June but not later than the last day of August: Provided that in the event of a declaration of a state of emergency or state of calamity, the President, upon the recommendation of the Secretary of Education, may set a different date for the start of the school year.”
The measure applies to both private and public elementary schools and high schools in the country.
Although COVID-19 cases continue to rise each day and no vaccine has been found yet, enrollment in public schools began Monday for the upcoming school year, which will formally start on August 24 and end on April 30 next year.
Duterte has repeatedly announced he will not allow the traditional face to face classes in the country until a vaccine to cure Coronavirus becomes available.
Education Secretary Leonara Briones has proposed of the Blended and Distant Learning as an alternative method of education for the students, a proposed approved by the President.-NewsLine
