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DepEd postpones June 5 school opening in Marawi City

(UPDATED) Education officials say classes in the crisis-hit city will be postponed for 'at the most two
weeks'

Jee Y. Geronimo

Published: 3:55 AM May 31, 2017

Updated: 4:55 AM May 31, 2017

MANILA, Philippines (UPDATED) – The Department of Education (DepEd) is postponing the June 5
opening of classes in Marawi City, Lanao del Sur due to the ongoing clashes between the military and
local terrorists.

Education Assistant Secretary GH Ambat confirmed this to Rappler on Wednesday, May 31, saying they
are postponing classes for "at the most two weeks."

Undersecretary Alain Pascua said the DepEd decided to postpone due to "security issues."

Presidential Spokesperson Ernesto Abella also announced the postponement during Wednesday's
Mindanao Hour at Malacañang.
In a separate statement on Wednesday, Education Secretary Leonor Briones clarified that the delay in
the class opening is to ensure the students' safety, and not because schools will be used as evacuation
centers.

The DepEd will also postpone classes in schools nearest to the armed conflict but outside Marawi City,
although the department did not name the areas where they are located.

A week ago, the education department announced that classes in Marawi City's public elementary and
high schools would begin as planned on June 5.

It was also announced that DepEd schools will not be used as evacuation centers for residents affected
by the unrest.

President Rodrigo Duterte declared martial law in Mindanao last May 23, following clashes between the
military and the Maute terrorist group in Marawi City. (READ: TIMELINE: Marawi clashes prompt martial
law in all of Mindanao)

The 1987 Constitution states that martial law should not exceed 60 days. Any extension has to be
approved by Congress. (READ: Martial Law 101: Things you should know)

Mapping of learners

Student mapping already began in Marawi City's neighboring cities.

"Our regional directors already have their inventory of additional learners evacuated to Iligan and
Cagayan de Oro because they know, come June 5, there will be more learners under their jurisdiction
than the originally projected," Briones explained.
She said these displaced learners may enroll in another school even with just their Learner Reference
Number.

The DepEd is also coordinating with DepEd-Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) in
mobilizing teachers familiar with the language or dialect in Marawi City.

These teachers will be deployed to teach in areas with student transferees from Marawi City.

Briones said the DepEd-ARMM will provide the teachers, while the DepEd Central Office will provide the
funding for the teachers. – Rappler.com

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Opening of classes in Marawi postponed as fighting continues

Kristine Angeli Sabillo - 2 years ago

marawi

An evacuated child is carried by a Philippine soldier in Marawi on the southern island of Mindanao on
May 31, 2017, as fighting between government forces and Muslim militants rages on the ninth day. / AFP
PHOTO / TED ALJIBE

\The government has decided to postpone the opening of classes in parts of Lanao del Sur as the military
continues to go after the remaining members of the Maute terrorist group.

Abella announced on Wednesday, during a Palace briefing, that Education Secretary Leonor Briones will
be moving the opening of classes, which was initially set for June 5, to a later date.

In a media release, the Department of Education said, “classes in Marawi City is postponed—for two
weeks at the most.”

Briones said it is for the safety of the people and “not because the schools will be used as evacuation
centers.”

“The opening of classes in eight districts from Lanao del Sur, those nearest to the armed conflict, will also
be postponed to further ensure the safety of learners and DepEd employees,” DepEd added.
This decision was made after Briones met with Mindanao DepEd officials in Cagayan de Oro.

DepEd said the affected schools may hold classes during the weekends to keep up with the school
calendar.

Briones said they have already started mapping and taking note of which schools will be receiving more
students as families flee towards safer cities. She said the transferees can easily enroll in another school
with their “Learner Reference Number” since they might not have the necessary school records with
them because of the emergency relocation.

Teachers who can also speak the local language and dialect will be deployed to schools that will accept
the transferees.

Last week, President Rodrigo Duterte placed Mindanao under martial law after members of the Maute
group reportedly took over and burned down several buildings in Marawi City. Government security
forces continue to conduct operations against the rebels who claim to be linked to the international
terrorist group Islamic State of Iraq and Syria. JE

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