The Department of Education (DepEd) expressed optimism that it will be able to produce more error-free learning resources to students when classes in public schools officially start next month.
“Sinusubok natin na talagang maging malinis at maayos ang ating mga modules (We try to make our modules really ‘clean’ and free from errors),” DepEd Undersecretary for Curriculum and Instruction Diosdado San Antonio during a regional press conference on Tuesday, Aug. 17.
“Hindi natin itinigil yung pag- enhance ng ating quality assurance protocols (We never stopped in enhancing our quality assurance protocols),” he added.
The opening of school year (SY) 2021-2022 will mark the second year that students in the basic education level will be learning their lessons through multiple learning modalities.
In SY 2020-2021, DepEd implemented a distance learning approach for the first time since schools remained closed due to the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) situation in the country.
When classes formally open on Sept. 13 as approved by President Duterte, millions of students in kinder, elementary and high school will continue their education at home using modular learning (printed and offline), online learning, television and radio-based instruction, and blended learning or a combination of two or more learning modalities.
READ:
https://mb.com.ph/2021/07/16/opening-of-school-year-2021-2022-for-public-schools-set-on-sept-13-deped/
San Antonio explained that for the First Quarter, the Self-Learning Modules (SLMs) that were quality assured by the DepEd Central Office will be available in digital format. “Pwede din i-print kung kinakailangan (It can also be printed if needed),” he said.
DepEd was called out several times last school year after errors were found - mostly by netizens - in its SLMs and other learning resources under distance learning.
READ:
https://mb.com.ph/2021/06/14/deped-trends-after-a-terrifying-error-was-found-in-a-learning-module/
“For the 1st and 2nd , definitely the errors that were found should no longer be there,” San Antonio explained in a mix of English and Filipino.
To ensure that SLMs are free from errors, San Antonio said that DepEd sought the help of Philippine Normal University (PNU) in the quality assurance of the learning resources to be used for 3rd and 4th grading.
San Antonio expressed confidence that the learning resources for 3rd and 4th Quarters will be available early and will be “cleaner” since these were bought from private publishers.
“These were reviewed twice, one by the team of the publication office and DepEd’s team,” San Antonio said, adding that learning resources for 3rd and 4th quarters underwent stricter quality assurance process and were checked by more reviewers.
San Antonio said that the Regional and Division Offices also underwent capacitating trainings to monitor these errors and how these can be avoided. He also assured the public everyone DepEd will continue to find ways to totally eliminate the errors in SLMs.
“Tayo ay hindi nagiging masaya na kahit may isang mali diyan pero sabi ko nga, best effort tayo --- hindi namin pinapabayaan ito (We’re not happy even if there’s only one mistake and as I always say, we try our best effort - we continue to monitor this),” San Antonio said.
Should there still be errors found in the SLMs this incoming school year, San Antonio said that these may be reported to “DepEd Error Watch.”
Local officials of DepEd, San Antonio said, were directed to make appropriate decisions or actions on SLMs that were found erroneous.
“They can issue an errata or erratum if its locally-produced modules and if the error came from the CO, we will acknowledge it. If the error is quite serious, we will withdraw the learning resources,” he added.