OPLAN BALIK ESKWELA AMIDST THE COVID-19 CRISIS

The whole world is shocked when the first Novel Coronavirus came out and reached the country
last March, 2020. No one is spared. The number of new Covid-19 cases and deaths can be tallied every
day, with heartbreaking precision. As Covid-19 spreads around the globe to devastating effect, so it poses
a huge challenge towards the Philippine educational system. What preparations should the DepEd makes
in the short time available and how do they address students’ needs by level and field of study?

Divide the work and multiply success. This is what the Department of Education is doing to
ensure the smooth opening of classes, so it is set to reactivate the Oplan Balik Eskwela (OBE) centers
nationwide from June 1 to August 29, 2020 in pursuant to DM No. 014, s. 2020. Under the Oplan Balik
Eskwela (OBE), the DepEd ensures that the parents, learners and other community stakeholders are
properly informed of the learning opportunities amidst COVID-19. It aims to address enrollment-related
problems, queries, and other concerns commonly encountered by the public.

In light of the Covid-19, a new norm concept of OBE is what the school, plans to do. Under the
new normal, school must follow the protocol of enrolment and ceased face-to- face enrolment and
instructions, switching to online and distance learning and virtual education. Oplan Balik Eskwela (OBE)
offers practical guidance to teachers, school administrators and other community stakeholders who must
manage the educational consequences of this pandemic. OBE addresses schools’ preparation for the
opening of classes such as assisting in the dissemination and clarification of policies and guidelines of
enrolment. It also assesses the needs of students at different levels and stages. Likewise, it stretches
reassurance to students and parents as well as different techniques and approaches to distance learning
offers by the system. Oplan Balik Eskwela seeks to brace and to support its synergy with the different
related organization in contributing to educational needs especially at this critical time.