To strengthen the resiliency of the education system beyond the COVID-19 pandemic, the Department of Education (DepEd) is proposing the implementation of the “DepEd TV” and the “DepEd Radio” as a long-term strategy for education.
“Learning using TV and Radio will continue to be used to address recurring problems caused by disasters and classroom congestion,” said DepEd Undersecretary for Administration Alain Del Pascua.
He noted that the recent restrictions in face-to-face classes caused by the COVID-19 pandemic compelled DepEd to adopt alternative learning delivery modalities for School Year (SY) 2020-2021.
As cited in its Basic Education Learning Continuity Plan (BE-LCP), DepEd has identified four modalities for distance learning:
1) Print-based or offline self-learning modules (SLMs)
2) Online learning
3) Television-based instruction, and
4) Radio-based instruction.
The DepEd TV and DepEd Radio projects were initiated by Pascua’s office through the Information and Communications Technology Service (ICTS) led by Director Abram Abanil, in partnership with the Curriculum and Instruction Strand led by Undersecretary Diosdado San Antonio and Assistant Secretary Alma Ruby Torio.
The Bureau of Learning Delivery (BLD) led by Director Leila Arreola also arranged for initial training for radio-based instructions at the University of the Philippines (UP) in both Diliman and Los Baños campuses.
The first batch of teacher-broadcasters were trained in July wherein the participants were able to produce the first DepEd TV episodes which aired during the dry run in August. “All TV episodes will also have a corresponding radio-based lecture that is intended to reach learners who do not have access to television,” Pascua said.
To ensure the sustainability of DepEd TV and Radio for future use, Pascua said that the DepEd have to invest in building up the pool of teacher broadcasters and production personnel to produce 220 episodes per week.
Pascua also noted the need to establishing studios in all the regions and divisions in the country as well as radio stations/transmitters in all schools. Establishing a 6-channel digital television infrastructure that can cover the whole Philippines will also be very crucial.
“We are potentially looking at the future of education here,” Pascua said. “Apart from online learning, which we are pursuing through DepEd Commons, television and radio continue to be very effective channels for instruction and education, hence the DepEd TV and DepEd Radio,” he ended.