School Opening – In August Or Even Later

School opening in June is definitely out, presidential spokesman Harry Roque said last week. That is only a month from now and at the rate the COVID-19 virus continues to spread and kill people all over the country, opening of classes this June would be contrary to all that the administration has done to stop the spread of the virus.

The Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF) on Emerging Infectious Diseases, which has been coordinating the nation’s response to the pandemic, has recommended class opening in September at the earliest, but the final decision has been left to the Department of Education for public schools.

There is an existing law, Republic Act 7977, which provides that the school year shall start “on the first Monday of June, but no later than the last day of August.” If, as some quarters have proposed, school opening this year be moved to September because of the pandemic, Congress will have to amend this law and enact a new one.