Support to Oplan Balik Eskwela (OBE) 2020

June 26, 2020

DILG MEMORANDUM CIRCULAR NO. 2020-096

 

1. Background/Basis

1.1. The Department of Education developed a Basic Education Learning Continuity Plan in the Time of COVID-19 (BE-LCP), which lays down the direction for basic education and provides guidance on how to deliver basic education in School Year 2020-2021 during the COVID-19 public health emergency;

The BE-LCP includes Blended/Distance Learning Modalities where lessons will be delivered to students in the following methods:

• Printed or digital modules delivered to the homes of the students, or picked up by their parents at designated places, within coordinated schedules;

• Online learning resources such as DepEd Commons; and,

• Television or radio-based instruction.

1.2. President Rodrigo Roa Duterte stated his strong support to the BE-LCP and the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases approved the adoption of the BE-LCP in the Omnibus Guidelines on the Implementation of Community Quarantine in the Philippines (with amendments as of June 3, 2020);

1.3. Republic Act No. 7797, entitled "An Act to Lengthen the School Calendar from Two Hundred (200) Days to Not More than Two Hundred Twenty (220) Class Days," provides in Section 3 that the school year shall start on the first Monday of June but not later than the last day of August;

1.4 The BE-LCP and DepEd Order No. 7, s. 2020, entitled "School Calendar and Activities for School Year 2020-2021" provide that the opening of School Year 2020-2021 is on August 24, 2020;

1.5 DepEd Order No. 8, s. 2020, entitled "Guidelines on Enrollment for School Year 2020-2021 in the Context of the Public Health Emergency Due to COVID-19," spells out the procedures on enrollment in public elementary and secondary schools nationwide;

2. Objective/Purpose

2.1. To provide assistance to all learners and their families, teaching and non-teaching personnel of DepEd in public elementary and secondary schools, alternative learning systems centers, and DepEd offices nationwide, all Local Chief Executives (LCEs), including Punong Barangays, are enjoined to support the OBE campaign by undertaking, but not limited to, the following activities:

a. Convene their respective Local School Board (LSB) to:

• Determine and allocate annual supplementary budgetary needs for the operation of public schools within the province, city, or municipality for the localized implementation of BE-LCP.

• To authorize the provincial, city or municipal treasurer, as the case maybe, to disburse funds from the Special Education Fund (SEF), pursuant to the budget prepared and in accordance with existing rules and regulations for the implementation of the BE-LCP.

• To advise the Sangguniang Committee on Education on matters of local appropriations for educational purposes.

• Discuss the learning delivery modality deemed appropriate in the context of local conditions and consistent with IATF-EID guidelines and how to prepare teachers and school leaders delivery modalities.

b. Provide assistance in the Enrollment activities such as provision of kiosk or center in their barangays for the distribution and collection of enrolment forms of learners in public schools in their respective areas;

c. Provide/Donate laptops, desktops, tablet PCs, tablets, smartphones, internet services and other learning resources to public schools, teachers, and/or students provided that they should comply with the Memorandum issued by the DepEd providing for minimum specifications for ICT equipment and internet services to be donated to schools, teachers or learners as provided in DILG Memorandum dated June 11, 2020;

d. Assist the schools under their jurisdiction in the delivery and collection of printed modules to the homes of the students upon the request of school authorities.

2.2 All DILG Regional Directors and the BARMM Minister of Local Government are hereby directed to participate in the Campaign by undertaking relevant activities and cause the widest dissemination of this Circular within their respective regions.

3. Effectivity

3.1 This Memorandum Circular shall take effect immediately.

4. Approving Authority

(SGD.) EDUARDO M. AÑOSecretary