Despite challenges in the current learning set-up, regional offices and schools divisions offices under the Department of Education (DepEd) are stepping up their efforts to ensure that education will continue.

In particular, DepEd cited the initiatives of its regional office in Cagayan Valley. In a virtual visit of Education Secretary Leonor Briones, the schools divisions also shared their best practices and strategies in the implementation of the Basic Education Learning Continuity Plan (BE-LCP).

Region II Director Benjamin Paragas noted that one of the most effective initiatives is the “Project PROVIDE” or Providing Resources Offline: Various Interactive Developed Educational Instructional Materials (IMs).

This stood out as the main and frontline project as it offers both an online and offline mechanism in harnessing and providing learning materials that can be accessed by learners in all walks of life.

The project caters not only to regular learners but also learners with special educational needs (LSEN).

“We are motivated more than ever to always give our best in realizing the regional education agenda in realization, too, of the agenda of the national leadership,” Paragas said.

The school division superintendents of the three School Division Offices (SDOs) in Cauayan, Ilagan, and Santiago also informed Briones the initiatives currently undertaken to provide support for blended learning this school year.

As the School Divisions in DepEd Region II showcased best practices to support blended learning, they highlighted the need to effectively support education in the new normal.

Out of all the initiatives in their SDO, Cauayan Schools Division Superintendent Alfredo Gumaru Jr. cited the “Project BERNARD” or Bringing Education using Radio, Non-print, and Automated Resources to the Diverse learners; and Project CATCH THEM Early or Cuddling At-risk Children Through Home-based E-Mentoring on the Early Language of Literacy and Numeracy also stood out.

Initiatives such as this, Gumaru explained, have been responsive to the needs of the learners in the community - even those from the nearby municipalities - through the provision of learning platforms and materials, as well as a reading program in response to DepEd’s “Sulong EduKalidad” campaign.

Santiago City Schools Division Superintendent Cherry Ramos, on the other hand, highlighted various practices that help in the successful implementation of learning modalities.

Another commendable initiative, as shared by Ilagan City Schools Division Superintendent Gilbert Tong, is the institutionalization of Project RADIO or Radiating Active Voice on Developing Learners.

This, he noted, serves as a break from the monotonous modular distance learning and produced an avenue for creative and innovative learning.