To ensure the success of blended learning, officials of the Department of Education (DepEd) on Tuesday enjoined the public –parents, guardians and the members of the community – to support the program.
Education Secretary Leonor Briones, during the Palace virtual presser with Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque, said that DepEd has taken into consideration the capacities and competencies of parents or guardians when they developed the Basic Education - Learning Continuity Plan (BE-LCP).
“We recognize this because one of the features of the new ways of learning delivery is to encourage greater participation from the parents,” Briones said in a mix of English and Flipino. “The children spend a great amount of time at home and so we need their help for monitoring,” she added.
As a response to this concern, Briones said parent academies were set up in various places nationwide. “One of the preparations for this school year is really the exposure of parents to these different learning modalities,” she explained.
Meanwhile, Undersecretary and Spokesperson Annalyn Sevilla noted that the support from everyone will make the transition into blended/distance learning easier.
“From the face-to-face that we were used to, the learning delivery modality is really a big shift so we need the participation of parents, guardians, and community,” Sevilla said in a CNN Philippines interview. “These modalities require the support, cooperation, and understanding of the people who are surrounding our learners,” she added.
Prior to the Oct. 5 school opening, DepEd has conducted orientation and briefing to parents. Latest data from DepEd showed that there are 12,665,589 parents and guardians who have been trained on the distance learning modalities.
During the orientation, Sevilla said that “parents or guardians were more stressed in these new modes than the learners.”
To help those who cannot help their children for various reasons, she explained that DepEd will be hiring Learning Support Aides (LSAs) in partnership with local government units.
“We need to recognize that this school year is a big change that is why continuing orientation, understanding, awareness and acceptance is needed,” Sevilla said.