This developed as DepEd sets into motion, “Oplan Balik Eskwela (OBE) 2016,” one of the most significant events for the education sector.
In a statement sent by Michelle Catap-Lacson, DepEd III Regional Information Officer, “under the OBE, DepEd activates quick response teams, emergency hotlines and helpdesks to respond to needs and queries pertaining to the school opening.”
Lacson said DepEd has already prepared and disseminated the guidelines and standard procedures in all schools on the conduct the school opening event.
For this year, the 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.
Lacson said the said help desk has been operational since Monday, (May 23) and will be open from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. from Mondays to Fridays until June 30.
“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 Br. Armin A. Luistro FSC said in the statement.
“The practice of working harmoniously with our partner agencies every school opening has resulted to better coordination and smoother issues management arising from this annual national event,” Luistro added.
Lacson said the DepEd is also rolling out the final leg of the K to 12 Law which is the SHS Program starting this June.
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 assignments, classrooms, teachers, power and water supplies, 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, she said.
