Anticipating that many parents would opt for homeschooling as an alternative learning delivery modality for their children amid the COVID-19 pandemic, the Department of Education (DepEd) on Monday announced that “clearer guidelines” will be issued before the classes formally start on Oct. 5.
During the virtual “Handang Isip, Handa Bukas” virtual press briefing, Education Secretary Leonor Briones acknowledged the growing concerns and complaints on homeschooling offered in the country.
“There are complaints on homeschooling and DepEd is in the process finalizing the guidelines on homeschooling,” Briones said. She underscored the need for clearer guidelines as the concept of homeschooling has changed over the recent years.
“Unlike before, the parent themselves are the ones who teach their children at home but now, there are other homeschooling providers,” Briones said. “Now, we could not help but ask, ‘what is homeschooling?’” she added.
Briones noted that children who undergo homeschooling will be required to undertake assessment if they wish to move to higher levels of learning. “They need to take national assessment tests and we expect that there will be more who will consider homeschooling as as an alternative to the dangers to COVID,” she said.
DepEd Undersecretary for Curriculum and Instruction Diosdado San Antonio said that the DepEd Management Committee (ManComm) has been discussing the guidelines to be issued on homeschooling.
“The guidelines are almost finalized,” San Antonio said. “We agreed that home school providers here in the country should only cater to Filipino learners only,” he added. “While we acknowledge that concept of homeschooling as changed, we still need to provide support to the parents,” he added.