‘Oplan Balik Eskewela’ launched today

IN cooperation with other agencies and stakeholders, the Department of Education is set to launch today, Monday, Oplan Balik Eskwela (OBE) as part of preparations for the opening of classes for the school year 2024-2025 on July 29.

The OBE will run until August 2.

“The OBE is part of the Department’s effort to ensure that learners from public and private schools are properly enrolled. It aims to address problems, queries and other concerns commonly encountered by the public at the start of the school year,” the DepEd said in a memorandum dated July 17.

Among the members of the OBE Inter-Agency Task Force are the Departments of Energy, Interior and Local Government, Health, Public Works and Highways, Trade and Industry, Social Welfare and Development, Transportation, Information and Communications Technology, Meralco, Metropolitan Manila Development Authority, Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System, PAGASA, Philippine National Police, National Telecommunications Commission, National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council, and the Presidential Communications Office.

Part of the OBE is the establishment of a Public Assistance Command Center at the DepEd central, regional and division offices.

“The OBE Public Assistance and Command Center shall serve as an information and complaints processing and routing mechanism,” the memorandum said, adding it will also “assist in the dissemination and clarification of DepEd policies, programs, projects and processes, particularly those relevant to the opening of classes.”

It will also identify and coordinate with concerned DepEd offices on “complex concerns” that will require their action.

The public, according to DepEd, may send their complaints and concerns through hotlines, emails, text messaging services, social media and letter endorsements.

The DepEd also reminded regional and division heads that in the conduct of the OBE, “no teacher shall be subjected to administrative work.”