Tuesday, May 31, 2011

All Systems Go for the SY 2011-2012 Opening of Classes

Not only BRIGADA ESKWELA otherwise known as the National Maintenance Week has ensured that all public schools are ready for the first day of classes on Monday, June 6 but also the central office as its launches again the Oplan Balik Eskwela (OBE) Information and Action Center Task Force (IAC) as part of the OBE Project.

 To assist concerned individuals by providing them helpful information, handling complaints and routing mechanism during the OBE implementation, the department has set up the OBE-IAC that will last from May 30 to June 10 at the DepEd Central Office.

“The Oplan Balik Eskwela is a part of our commitment to EFA goals. This project will ensure smooth opening of classes so that the school children are properly enrolled and all school children are in school on June 6, the first day of school year 2011-2012,” DepEd Secretary Armin Luistro said.

Luistro added that the department is seriously looking into filling up the essential learning resource gaps.

“These shortages have been the perennial problem of the basic education system. While interventions are now in place, we cannot stop from there. We will continue to explore different avenues to make ends meet.”

Alongside DepEd, other government agencies involved in school opening matters will assemble the Oplan Balik Eskwela-Inter-Agency Task Force (OBE-IATF). The OBE-IATF is composed of the following agencies: Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), Department of National Defence (DND) Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG), Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), Department of Health (DOH), Philippine National Police (PNP), Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA), and Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services and Administration (PAGASA). Private corporations involved in the delivery of services for the education sector will also be invited.

This year, active involvement from the different DepEd field offices is encouraged. Specifically, the regional directors and schools division superintendents will also have their own command centers not only to ensure for the smooth opening of classes but more importantly, to encourage parents and communities to bring school-aged children to public elementary and secondary schools.

“We are urging our local counterparts to do a massive door-to-door campaign at least one week before the school opening. We also seek partnerships with local government units (LGUs), private individuals and groups and non-government organizations (NGOs). These efforts will surely achieve a significant increase in the number of enrollees this coming school year,” Luistro added.

Likewise, all regional directors and school division superintendents are directed to designate from their senior staff at least two action officers who will oversee regional and local concerns and coordinate these concerns with the central office.

Local IACs will set-up hotlines to receive calls, text and fax messages, and e-mails on complaints, requests and suggestions and a help desk to accommodate walk-in concerns.

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