DepEd prepares 'Balik Eskwela' for SY 2013-2014

The Department of Education will set into motion Operation Balik Eskwela (OBE) for school year 2013-2014 on May 27 to 31.

It will also set up the Public Assistance Station (PAS) on June 1 to 8 to ensure the smooth opening of classes when school year 2013-2014 starts in June, DepEd said in a statement.

The annual OBE and PAS address the problems that usually crop up during school opening and see to it that school children are in their respective classrooms and buckling down to lessons at the first day of the school year.

One of the components of the OBE is the convergence of government agencies so that all concerns associated with school opening are taken into account.

The Oplan Balik-Eskwela Inter Agency Task Force is participated in by the Department of Trade & Industry, the Department of National Defense, Interior & Local Government, Public Works & Highways, Health, the Philippine National Police, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) and the Metro Manila Development Authority.

Another key component of the OBE is the creation of the Information and Action Center (IAC) at the Bulwagan ng Karunungan at the DepEd Central that will serve as the communication hive of all school-opening concerns and issues. (PNA)