DepEd: New school year to start August 22

Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, July 12) — The academic year 2022-2023 is set to start on August 22 for public schools, with a deadline for the full rollout of face-to-face classes in both public and private schools in November, the Department of Education (DepEd) announced.

In its Facebook page on Tuesday, the agency posted Department Order No.34 signed by Vice President and DepEd Sec. Sara Duterte which outlines the school calendar and activities for the new school year.

"The School Year 2022-2023 shall formally start on Monday, August 22, 2022, and end on Friday, July 7, 2023. There shall be a total of 203 days or as may be determined by further issuance/s in case of changes in the school calendar due to unforeseen circumstances," the order read.

Enrollment will be from July 25 to August 22, while information programs Brigada Eskwela and Oplan Balik Eskwela will be conducted on August 1-26 and August 15, respectively.

DepEd expects all public and private schools to have transitioned to five days of in-person classes by November 2. After this date, no school shall be allowed to implement purely distance learning or blended learning, except those implementing Alternative Delivery Modes.

Public schools already implementing face-to-face classes were told to continue doing so in the new academic year. Meanwhile, the department is giving other schools time to slowly transition by implementing any of the following options:

-Five days of in-person classes

-Blended learning (three days in-person and two days distance learning, followed by four days in-person and one day distance learning)

-Full distance learning

DepEd said these "shall only be implemented by schools until October 31, 2022."

The department also noted that the holding of in-person classes "shall apply regardless of COVID-19 alert level." However, DepEd will comply if health officials see the need to suspend its implementation, DepEd Usec. Epimaco Densing III said in a briefing. [will link story]

Given the new stressors and challenges learners will face in the shift, DepEd is encouraging schools to provide psychosocial support in the first week of implementation.

Meanwhile, Christmas break is scheduled to start December 19 until classes resume on January 4, 2023, the agency said.

The agency also said school year 2023-2024 will be from August 28, 2023 to June 28, 2024, while school year 2024-2025 will be from August 26, 2024 to June 27, 2025.