Malacañang on Thursday expressed hope that the private sector would help the government in ensuring the effective implementation of new learning initiatives for students amid the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) pandemic.

“Sigurado rin po ako na ang ating pribadong sector ay gagawa rin ng mga hakbang para makapagbigay din po ng mga gadget sa ating mga kababayan (I am sure that the private sector would also find a way to give gadgets to learners),” Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque said in a virtual press conference.

Roque made the statement as the country prepares for the opening of classes on August 24.

The Department of Education (DepEd) has scheduled the school opening on Aug. 24, 2020 and the end of the school year on April 30, 2021 but private schools may start earlier upon the approval of regional directors.

During a Senate hearing on Thursday, the DepEd disclosed that about 300,000 of the 800,000 teachers nationwide have already been trained for distance and blended learning.

Roque reiterated that the government is ready for the resumption of classes in August.

“I’m sure po merong programa na sisimulan ang ating gobyerno (I’m sure the government has already prepared several programs [for the school opening this year]),” he said. “Sisiguraduhin po natin na patuloy ang pag-aaral ng lahat ng ating kabataan sa panahon ng Covid-19 (We will make sure that the youth will continue learning amid the Covid-19 pandemic).”

In May, President Rodrigo Duterte thumbed down the resumption of face-to-face classes until a vaccine against Covid-19 is developed.

Education Secretary Leonor Briones assured Duterte that her department would use blended and distance learning methods in light of the Covid-19 crisis.

This means the DepEd would resort to the use of radio, television, online, and modular learning.

On Thursday, DepEd appealed to learners, parents, and other stakeholders to support distance and blended learning.

It also ensured that there would be no face-to-face classes for the coming school year “until determined to be safe by the DOH (Department of Health), IATF (Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases), and the President.” (PNA)