To strengthen the implementation of its Basic Education-Learning Continuity Plan (BE-LCP) amid the COVID-19 situation in the country, the Department of Education (DepEd) reinforces a crisis-resilient strategy in education which aims to encourage independent student learning.
The DepEd has collaborated with the Central Visayan Institute Foundation (CVIF) and Smart Communications, Inc. (Smart) to bring improvement to the Philippine educational landscape through the CVIF-Dynamic Learning Program (CVIF-DLP).
The CVIF-DLP is a Smart-backed teaching methodology that promotes independent student learning to improve the academic performance of a learner, especially in Science, Innovative Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics.
It was first established in 2002 at CVIF in Jagna, Bohol by world-renowned Theoretical Physicists and Ramon Magsaysay awardees for education, Dr. Christopher Bernido, and Dr. Ma. Victoria Carpio-Bernido.
The independent learning strategy works in all primary and secondary academic levels, as well as in the Alternative Learning System (ALS), and targets the entire spectrum of learners, including Special Education students.
Education Secretary Leonor Briones said that DepEd has over 100 partners - including civil societies, church organizations, individuals, and parents who help out in the opening activities as well as in the preparation for the School Year 2020-2021 opening on Oct. 5.
“It is wonderful to feel that the Department is not alone because education is everybody’s concern,” she added.
In partnership with the social outreach arm PLDT-Smart Foundation (PSF) of parent company PLDT Inc. (PLDT), Smart has been helping CVIF roll out training on the innovative teaching method for over a decade.
Smart Communications, Inc. Assistant Vice President for Community Partnerships Stephanie Orlino said that the CVIF-DLP was developed to be “low budget, because it can work even without internet access, devices, books, and notebooks. It applies to any or a combination of DepEd modalities – print-based, online, or even TV and radio.”
DepEd recently announced its endorsement of the CVIF-DLP independent learning strategy as a Flexible Learning Option (FLO), in time for education’s new normal brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic.
“We are very happy that CVIF-DLP will be available as a supplemental learning resource that teachers can use this coming school year,” Orlino added.
A key component of CVIF-DLP is its self-directed Learning Activity Sheets, which are aligned with the learners’ most essential learning competencies (MELC).The pre-developed Learning Activity Sheets for junior to senior high school will be made available for free in the DepEd Commons, an e-platform providing Open Educational Resources (OER), to continue learning without compromising the health and safety of learners during a health crisis.
The parent or guardian intervention is only minimal in CVIF-DLP. Adult companions only need to make the program’s activity learning sheets available to their children and provide them enough space and time to do the activities assigned by teachers.
“It is important to develop more independent learning during this time because teachers cannot be physically present in students’ homes. They also cannot lecture as extensively and in prolonged hours like before,” Orlino said.