THE Department of Education (DepEd) has announced that private schools and non-DepEd-supervised public schools may already start their classes for School Year 2021-2022. DepEd said they may open the school year "provided that there are no face-to-face classes and that the school will be strictly implementing only distance learning modalities." Those who intend to start classes ahead of the general school opening must submit to the DepEd regional offices documents that certify their readiness in accordance with DepEd Orders 13 and 17 series of 2020. These documents include a School Calendar for SY 2021-2022, a School Plan for compliance with minimum health standards issued by DepEd, and a School Recovery and Readiness Plan or a School Learning Continuity Plan showing alternative learning delivery modalities intended to be offered by the school. Meanwhile, DepEd has proposed to President Rodrigo Duterte three possible dates for the official start of the school year for public schools: August 23, September 6 and September 13.

Source: Manila Times June 25, 2021 16:18 UTC