The Coordinating Council of Private Educational Association of the Philippines (COCOPEA) appealed to the Department of Education (DepEd) to exempt private schools from the October 5 class opening.
“Ang ating stand diyan, dapat hindi tayo kasama dahil, actually, marami naman nag-bukas na ng kanilang schools even before this announcement was made,” COCOPEA Managing Director Joseph Noel Estrada said in an interview on Dobol B sa News TV.
(Our stand there, we should not be included because, actually, many have already opened their schools even before this announcement was made.)
He said that private schools were prepared and some even started classes in July.
“So ‘yun ang aming apila and we’re making that clarification as of the moment. But we’re also hoping na i-allow kasi magulo na masyado kung biglang puputulin ito, lalong-lalo na sa amin sa private schools,” he said.
(So that’s our appeal and we’re making that clarification as of the moment. But we’re also hoping to allow because it will be too chaotic if it is suddenly cut, especially for us in private schools.)
Also read: Opening of classes moved to October 5 – DepEd
Private schools want exemption from October 5 class opening
For the COCOPEA Managing Director, the real issue was whether or not public schools were ready to begin the school year 2020-2021.
“Kasi I think the issue now is really readiness. Hindi na ito health issue, readiness issue na ito. Dahil hindi naman pinaguusapan ang physical na pag-babalik sa eskwelahan,” he said.
(Because I think the issue now is readiness. This is no longer a health issue. This is a readiness issue. Because a physical return to school is not talked about.)
Estrada also said COCOPEA was even willing to help public schools.
Meanwhile, DepEd undersecretary Disodasdo San Antonio said that they would still discuss the inclusion of private schools in the October 5 class opening order.
“Ngayon po paguusapan po namin… gagawin namin very clear kung ano ‘yung tamang interpretation. Kasi ang tingin po namin, ako po personally, although hindi pa ito binding sa lahat, katulad din ng dati ang private schools po ay may kalayaan mamili ng mga petsa nila kung kailan sila mag-sisimula,” he said.
“Pero aalamin pa namin kasi hindi naman po ako abogado. Kailanga po ‘yung mga abogado sa team namin ang mag-papaliwanag sa amin kung tama ba itong interpretasyon na katulad ko,” he added.