PASIG CITY, May 22 — The Department of Education (DepEd) and its regional and division offices nationwide are all set for the opening of classes in June 13, 2016—one of the most significant events for the education sector—setting into motion the nationwide Oplan Balik Eskwela (OBE) 2016.
Under the OBE, DepEd activates quick response teams, emergency hotlines and helpdesks to respond to needs and queries pertaining to school opening. Moreover, DepEd has already prepared and disseminated the guidelines and standard procedures in all schools on the conduct the school opening event.
This year, DepEd teamed up with IBEX Global Solutions, a call center, to set up a Senior High School (SHS) Help Desk with the hotline number 667-1188. The said help desk will be operational on Monday, 23 May 2016, and will be open from 9am to 6pm, Mondays to Fridays until June 30, 2016.
“Our goal is to ensure that we will have a smooth opening of classes, with all concerns –major and minor – promptly addressed by the department and our partner agencies from other government agencies and the private sector,” Education Secretary Armin A. Luistro said.
Incidentally, also this June, DepEd is rolling out the final leg of the K to 12 Law which is the SHS Program. This year, Grade 11 will be introduced in all schools nationwide – public and private.
The annual OBE aims to address all possible concerns and challenges that may arise from the school opening such as school records, room assignment, classrooms, teachers, power and water supply, traffic, peace and order, weather condition and prices of school supplies, among others.
DepEd takes the lead in enlisting the support and teamwork among school opening key stakeholders by convening an inter-agency task force way ahead of the school opening. (DepEd)
