Senate OKs bill to delay the opening of classes on 3rd and final reading

Senate OKs bill to delay the opening of classes on 3rd and final reading The Senate on Monday, June 1 has approved on third and final read...

Senate OKs bill to delay the opening of classes on 3rd and final reading

The Senate on Monday, June 1 has approved on third and final reading a bill that would allow President Rodrigo Duterte to defer the opening of classes beyond August if he should declare a state of emergency nationwide or in selected areas.

Voting 23-0, senators unanimously passed on third and final reading Senate Bill No. 1541, during their plenary session, which seeks to amend Section 3 of Republic Act (RA) No. 7797 or An Act to Lengthen the School Calendar from two hundred (200) days to not more than two hundred twenty (220) class days.

At present, R.A. 7797 mandates the opening of classes between the first Monday of June but not later than the last day of August.

The DepEd earlier announced that the classes in public schools for School Year 2020-2021 will start on August 24. using "blended forms" of learning to ensure the welfare of students and teaching and non-teaching personnel at public and private schools in the country.

Once enacted into law, this measure will allow the President to postpone opening of classes at any date.