Cotabato City (August 12, 2020) – The Bangsamoro Government’s Ministry of Basic, Higher, and Technical Education (MBHTE) announced today that the ministry, in partnership with key stakeholders, is in full swing for the reopening of classes in the region on August 24.
“Tulad ni Chief Minister Ahod Balawag Ebrahim, batid ko ang inyong pangamba sa kaligtasan ng inyong mga anak sa panahong ito ng pandemya. Kaya’t ang Pamahalaang Bangsamoro at ang Ministro ng Edukasyon ay puspusan ang paghahanda upang siguraduhing ligtas ang pagbubukas ng klase sa Agosto 24,” MBHTE Minister Mohagher Iqbal said.
[Just like Chief Minister Ahod Balawag Ebrahim, I know you are concerned with your children’s safety during this pandemic. That’s why the Bangsamoro Government and the Education Ministry are in full swing to ensure a safe reopening of classes on August 24.]Iqbal said amid ongoing Covid-19 pandemic, the ministry will not implement face-to-face classes, unless the Inter-Agency on Task Force (IATF) on COVID– 19 provides permission and health guidelines to do so.
“Kung kaya ang home-based learning ay pinaghahandaan ng mga guro at gumagawa na sila ng mga Teachers Reference Guide, learner’s activity sheets at Assessment Checklist,” Iqbal said.
[That’s why our teachers are preparing for home-based learning and are producing Teachers Reference Guide, learner’s activity sheets at Assessment Checklist.]“Sa mga susunod na araw , asahan niyong ipapaliwanag ng ministro ang pamamaraan ng “home-based learning,” gayundin ang magiging tungkulin ng mga magulang, guro, opisyal ng paaralan at buong komunidad. May plano rin po ang Ministro na mag-abot ng Mental Health and Psychosocial Support sa mga nangangailangan,” he added.
[In the following days, expect that the ministry will explain the home-based learning approach, as well as the roles of the parents, teachers, school officials, and the entire community. We are also planning to extend Mental Health and Psychosocial Support to those in need.]Iqbal also said the MBHTE will be working closely with various organizations as the society grapples to the new normal set-up in the field of education.
“The ministry will collaborate with our local government and communities to ensure that the schools will comply with the rules set by the Bangsamoro Government IATF. We will also partner with Pathways to Peace, Save the Children, the Asia Foundation, United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), the World Bank, and others,” he said.
“Dahil karatapan ng mga kabataan ang edukasyon para sa kanilang kinabukasan, hinihikayat ko ang mga magulang at mga tagapag-alaga na i-enrol ang inyong mga anak sa pinakamalapit na ekwelahan upang tuloy tuloy ang kanilang pag-aaral,” Iqbal stressed.
[The youth have the right to education, for their future. I urge the parents and guardians to enroll their children in the closest public-school in their community so that they can continue their education.] (Bureau of Public Information) 
