The Department of Education (DepEd) said that more than 30,000 schools nationwide have conducted their respective simulations or dry runs for blended learning before the Oct. 5 formal school opening.
Citing data from DepEd’s Readiness Report Updates, DepEd Undersecretary and Spokesperson Atty. Nepomuceno Malaluan said that as of Sept. 13, a “total of 30,780 schools nationwide have conducted their respective dry runs on the different learning modalities” as indicated in their contextualized Basic Education - Learning Continuity Plan (BE-LCP).
This data exclude schools in Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM). The simulations of these schools, Malaluan said, were conducted from the start of the preparations until Sept. 13
Meanwhile, Malaluan noted that there are a total of 12,801 schools that are yet to conduct their dry run activities. “Some regions adjusted, postponed, or cancelled simulation activities in some schools division offices (SDOs) due to COVID-19-related issues such as increasing number of confirmed cases, use of schools as quarantine facilities, and community quarantine levels,” he added.
To see how blended/distance learning will actually proceed when classes start on Oct. 5, DepEd enjoined schools to conduct dry runs using various alternative learning modalities across basic education levels.
The government is strictly prohibiting the conduct of face-to-face classes this school year due to the COVID-19 situation in the country. Thus, DepEd will implement a blended/distance approach to ensure that the education of millions of Filipino learners will continue.
Under the blended/distance learning approach, various alternative learning delivery modalities might be implemented by the schools including printed or offline modular learning, online learning, and television or radio-based instruction.
DepEd regional offices and schools division offices were allowed to contextualize or adjust their local BE-LCP so schools can “blend” learning modalities depending on the needs and capacities of their students and teachers.
During the dry runs, blended/distance learning modalities were simulated depending on on the grade levels. Teachers and students were asked to attend mock classes to see the issues or problems they encounter in their preferred alternative learning delivery modality and address these before the classes formally open next month.
Based on the data from DepEd, there are 47,188 public schools nationwide as of January 2020. This number includes elementary, Junior High School (JHS), Senior High School (SHS), and kinder to Grade 12 Integrated Schools nationwide.
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