By Prince Golez
Malacañang clarified on Tuesday the statement of President Rodrigo Duterte on the suspension of classes amid the threat of the coronavirus disease (Covid-19).
In a virtual presser aired on state-run PTV-4, Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque said that public and private schools will formally start on August 24 using a blended learning approach.
Late Monday, Duterte said he prefers postponing the opening of classes, noting that no vaccine has yet been developed against Covid-19.
“Habang wala pang bakuna at habang wala pa tayo sa ‘new normal’, yung wala na pong community quarantine, hindi pa rin tayo magkakaroon ng face-to-face classroom na mga klase,” according to Roque.
“Pero ‘pag dumating ang 24 Agosto at nasa new normal tayo, pupuwede naman po. But, kung hindi talaga dumating ang new normal at hindi mai-lift ang community quarantines, hindi naman ibig sabihin hindi na mag-aaral ang ating mga kabataan.
“Meron tayong tinatawag na blended learning. Sang ayon kay Secretary (Leonor) Briones ng DepEd, gagamitin natin ang telebisiyon, ang radyo, at ang Internet para ipagpatuloy ang edukasyon ng ating mga kabataan,” he added.
