As the resumption of face-to-face classes remains uncertain due to new coronavirus variants emerging, Education Secretary Leonor Briones assured that the government continues to exhaust all means to ensure that education will continue using alternative learning delivery modalities.
At a pre- State of the Nation (SONA) media launch virtual presser on Wednesday, July 7, Briones said that the Department of Education (DepEd) - with the support of the Duterte administration - continues to strengthen remote learning options for students, especially at the basic education level.
“Lahat ginagawa na ng administrasyong ito. Dini-direct ni President Duterte, tumutulong ang DBM , DOF , DICT , lahat nag-aambagan para patuloy pa rin ang edukasyon, may pandemic or wala, may giyera or wala, may bagyo or wala - tuloy ang edukasyon (This administration is doing everything it can. With the direction coming from President Duterte, the DB, DOF, DICT, everyone is doing their share so that education will continue, whether or not there is pandemic, war, typhoon - education will continue),” Briones said.
Last month, Duterte told Briones in a televised briefing that he was “not inclined to agree” with DepEd in its proposal to hold limited face-to-face classes in low risk areas because he “cannot gamble on the health of the children” especially with the emerging variants of coronavirus disease (COVID-19).
The President’s decision was readily accepted by Briones as she formally withdrew DepEd’s request to hold the pilot implementation of limited face-to-face classes.
READ:
https://mb.com.ph/2021/06/21/briones-respects-dutertes-decision-not-to-allow-face-to-face-classes/
Following this decision, stakeholders - including teachers, parents, and learners - expressed concern that the challenges experienced under distance learning in the current school year will remain unaddressed.
READ:
https://mb.com.ph/2021/06/22/ph-braces-for-another-school-year-under-distance-learning/
While it remains uncertain whether or not in-person classes will resume this upcoming school year (SY) 2021-2022, Briones assured that DepEd is getting ready for all kinds of scenarios to ensure that millions of Filipino learners will be able to continue their education amidst the pandemic.
Even before the pandemic, Briones said that the government has been allocating funds for other learning delivery modalities such as provision of radios for students in remote areas where connectivity remains a challenge.
“Possibilities are explored, if books will not work, we’re finding other ways and the President has become more interested in this so he looked for funds to enhance and strengthen remote learning,” Briones said in a mix of English and Filipino.
Briones also noted that even without the pandemic, the department has started various initiatives in line with remote learning because of the advancement in technology. “Napakabilis, may bago araw-araw kaya kailangan, mag-keep in touch tayo (It’s so fast, there’s something new everyday and we have to keep in touch),” she said.
DepEd, she added, has also been looking towards the thrust towards digitalization of education. Briones said that the agency has also been exploring other possibilities to deliver education such as taking advantage of technology.
“The additional funds is such a big help so DepEd could respond and look for other means to deliver education,” Briones said.
For instance, Briones said that DepEd is eyeing the use of e-learning gadgets aside from the traditional, printed books. “Nakikita natin na napa-expensive yung mga printed material, di lamang expensive, napaka-dangerous dahil maraming puno ang pinapatay natin para maka-produce ng papel at ibang pang materyales (We see that printed materials are very expensive, and not just expensive but also dangerous because we kill a lot of trees just to produce paper and other materials),” she added.