To allay the fears of parents and students on learning delivery modalities this upcoming school year, Education Secretary Leonor Briones on Monday reiterated that there are various options that they can choose from.
“I think we have to repeat that online is not blended learning,” Briones said during the “Handang Isip, Handa Bukas” virtual press conference. “We have endeavored to emphasize that online is not the only answer to learning continuity at this time,” she added.
Briones issued this reminder as many parents raise concerns and challenges on distance learning approach - particularly on online learning. “Everybody is complaining about online but there are other ways and this is what blended and distance learning is all about,” she explained.
The learning delivery modalities this school year - as cited in DepEd’s Learning Continuity Plan (LCP) - were designed to cater to the unique circumstances of students and teachers, Briones said.
“There is a huge concern on online and other platforms of learning, I would like to emphasize again that the learning modality is blended learning,” Briones said. Aside from online platforms, you have television and radio, and printed modules so if online does not work, there are other modalities as well,” she added.
While there are challenges in the education system as it shifts into distance learning, Briones said that there many ways to ensure that learning will continue even during the public health emergency. “There is no reason for children not to go to school,” she said. “If there is no online, there are printed modules - there are other means,” she added.
Weeks before the formal opening of classes on Oct. 5, Briones said that DepEd has been receiving feedback from parents and guardians who are “struggling” on learning delivery modalities - especially on online learning.