While the distance learning approach is implemented this school year, an official of the Department of Education (DepEd) on Wednesday said that there might still be a need for students to buy some school supplies.

“Taking notes is still encouraged,” DepEd Undersecretary for Curriculum and Instruction Diosdado San Antonio told the Manila Bulletin. “But if learners prefer digital notebooks, it is okay,” he added.

Since various alternative learning delivery modalities will be used when classes formally start in public schools on Oct. 5, parents and students have been asking if school supplies will still be required. “I think pens and pencils would still be needed,” San Antonio said.

Due to the absence of face-to-face classes brought about by the COVID-19 situation in the country, lessons will be delivered to the students at home.

Among the delivery modalities under the distance learning approach include modular learning wherein printed or digitized modules will be used; online learning where classes will be conducted using video conferencing services or through the use of DepEd’s online platform called “DepEd Commons”; through educational videos shown in the television and radio-based instruction.

DepEd said that printed modules are the “most popular choice” among all the learning delivery modalities. However, San Antonio said that “we do not encourage learners to write” on the Self Learning Modules (SLMs). Thus, there might still be a need for parents to buy or provide basic school supplies such as notebooks, pens, pencils, erasers, crayons - among others - to their children.

As of Sept. 23, DepEd national enrollment data showed that the enrollment in both public and private schools for School Year (SY) 2020-2021 has reached 24.56 million which is 88.46% of the SY 2019-2020 enrollment. Of this number, 22.38 million students are enrolled in public schools while 2.13 million have registered in private schools.