The Department of Education (DepEd) met on Tuesday with its 17 inter-agency members for the “Oplan Balik Eskwela” (OBE) 2023 to plan mechanisms in addressing the concerns commonly encountered by the public during the opening of classes.

During the OBE command conference, DepEd Undersecretary for Operations Revsee Escobedo emphasized the need for a whole-of-nation approach in responding to these concerns.

“Since we are still on the learning recovery mode, opening of another school year is very critical to improving the learning outcomes of more than 28 million learners in over 47,000 public schools nationwide,” Escobedo said anticipating more tasks and challenges that the OBE Public Assistance Command Center (PACC) will face this year.

Co-chaired by Escobedo and DepEd Undersecretary Michael Poa, the OBE-PACC serves as an information and complaints processing enrolling mechanisms. Its specific functions are to receive, process, respond to specific queries and request, assist in dissemination, clarification, DepEd policies, programs, and processes relevant to the opening of classes.

Escobedo urged the partner-agencies to make sure that schools have access to the most basic necessities including communications, facilities, transportation, peace and order, and health and safety.

“We also need to make sure that our schools and classrooms are physically ready, safe, fully functional, and supportive of fundamental learning and education,” he added.

The OBE is an annual program of the DepEd that engages agencies, organizations, and other stakeholders for the opening of classes to address the concerns commonly encountered by the public during the opening of classes by providing assistance and information.

Together with its partner-agencies, the DepEd also monitors the smooth and orderly opening of classes and ensure that the school-age children are properly enrolled in schools. (PNA)