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October 17, 2022 – The Department of Education (DepEd) maintains its confidence in the benefits of holding in-person classes to promote academic development and the overall mental health and well-being of our learners.

Several published studies point to the undisputable fact that in-person classes remain the best option for basic education.

On 17 October 2022, DepEd issued an amendatory DepEd Order (DO) to DO 34, s. 2022 allowing private schools to offer blended learning modality and full distance learning options to their students.

DepEd is cognizant of the current situation of the private sector due to the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic — the amount of investment in online learning technologies, the development and institutionalization of best practices on blended learning, and the unfortunate closure of small private schools because of losses.

DepEd will leave the discussion on the learning modality to be implemented by private education institutions to the schools, the parents/guardians, and the learners.

DepEd, however, hopes that parents/guardians of private school learners would not miss the abundance of scientific studies available on the advantages of in-person classes over online learning.

Meanwhile, all public schools across the country will be mandated to implement five (5) days of in-person classes starting 02 November 2022.

The exceptions are (1) Public schools expressly granted exemptions by the Regional Director concerned, and (2) Public schools with canceled classes because of disasters and calamities.

DepEd will also expedite the review of our blended learning program to ensure that it will benefit our learners and essentially address learning issues.

Thank you.

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