DepEd to Open Oplan Balik Eskwela Command Center

Haven't you noticed, the streets are getting busier, the malls are overpoweringly flooded with parents and kids shopping for school supplies and yes schools are more than ever harried in preparing for this year's school opening.  This year marks the opening of school with K to 12 Curriculum now in full blast.  Together with the parents and teacher's readiness, are other concerns which they may have. not knowing where to get such answers.

With this the Department of Education had made sure that the opening of classes will be handled in a smooth and organized manner.  The school is mandated to be opened on June 3.  All this in mind, DepEd  is again launching the Oplan Balik Eskwela (OBE) Information and Action Center Task Force (IAC).

 

The OBE-IAC will provide helpful information, handle complaints and serve as a routing mechanism to students, parents, and teachers nationwide. It will be open from May 27 to June 7, including Saturday and Sunday, from 7am-6pm, at the Bulwagan ng Karunungan, DepEd Complex, Meralco Avenue, Pasig City.

 

“Every school year, we implement Oplan Balik Eskwela to facilitate an orderly school opening. But beyond that, OBE is part of our commitment to Education For All (EFA) goals.,” DepEd Secretary Br. Armin Luistro FSC said.

 

Luistro added that the department has been serious in addressing the problems in basic education, having already addressed the gaps in some of the learning resources such as school seats and textbooks where zero backlogs have already been achieved. Shortages in classrooms, teachers, and water and sanitation facilities will also be addressed before the year ends.

More on Oplan Balik Eskwela (OBE)

OBE is an inter-agency effort with other government agencies involved in school opening matters, This will compose the Oplan Balik Eskwela-Inter-Agency Task Force (OBE-IATF). Member agencies are: Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), Department of National Defense (DND) Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG), Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), Department of Health (DOH), Department of Transportation and Communication (DOTC), Department of Energy (DOE), Philippine National Police (PNP), Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA), Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (PHIVOLCS), and Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services and Administration (PAGASA). Private corporations involved in the delivery of services for the education sector such as Manila Water, Maynilad, MWSS, and MERALCO are also part of the task force.

 

Luistro encourages the active involvement from the different DepEd field offices. Specifically, the regional directors and schools division superintendents will also have their own command centers not only to ensure for the smooth opening of classes but more importantly, to encourage parents and communities to bring school-aged children to public elementary and secondary schools.

 

Likewise, all regional directors and school division superintendents are directed to designate from their senior staff at least two action officers who will oversee regional and local concerns and coordinate these concerns with the central office.

 

Local IACs will set-up hotlines to receive calls, text and fax messages, and e-mails on complaints, requests and suggestions and a help desk to accommodate walk-in concerns.

 

Central Office OBE-IAC may be reached through hotline number: (02) 636-1663 or email at action@deped.gov.ph. Walk-in concerns will also be accepted.