Classes in public schools formally suspended Jan. 2

Education Secretary Leonor Briones has formally announced the suspension of classes in all public schools and work in the Department of Education following the recent announcement of Malacañang.

Briones, in DepEd Memorandum No. 193, Series of 2018, issued to DepEd undersecretaries, assistant secretaries, bureau and service directors, regional directors, schools division superintendents, Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao regional secretary, and public and private elementary and secondary school heads, said that “work in all offices and units” of the DepEd “throughout the country is suspended” on that date.

Briones added that “all classes nationwide from Kindergarten to Grade 12 in public schools are also suspended on that date.”

She has left the suspension of work and classes in private schools to the “discretion of their school administrations.”

DepEd Undersecretary and spokesperson Annalyn Sevilla said that the quality of education won’t be affected by the suspension of classes. “Basta hindi mawawala ang quality ng edukasyon,” she said.

Sevilla said that DepEd is not really worried about the possibility of low attendance in the resumption of classes next year.

“Historically, we don’t have that problem in public schools because the schools are usually near the houses of the students – especially in elementary,” she said.

However, to minimize possible absenteeism or tardiness of students – both in public and private schools – DepEd is urging schools and teachers to “make initiatives to motivate the students to show up.”

President  Duterte ordered the suspension of work in government offices and classes in public schools nationwide on Jan. 2 through Memorandum Circular No. 54 signed by Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea in order to give the employees of the government full opportunity to celebrate such holiday with their families and loved ones. (Ina Hernando Malipot)