As the Department of Education (DepEd) endeavors to expand the limited face-to-face classes, Education Secretary Leonor Briones reminded stakeholders that schools will still implement blended learning.
“Our version of face-to-face will not be like the face-to-face teachers are used to,” Briones said in a statement issued Tuesday, Dec. 28.
This, she explained, is because it is “still blended with other methodologies” since the risk assessment from the Department of Health (DOH) remains “very crucial.”
“So if there will be any changes, we should be able to adapt,” Briones said.
Meanwhile, Briones said that while DepEd recognizes that face-to-face is “very important” in the learning process, the safety of the learners and teachers as well as of the other stakeholders in the community should be taken into consideration.
“So whether it will be one hour a week or two days a week, the version of face-to-face is also influenced by the degree of the risk, the necessity, and the importance of teachers working hand in hand,” Briones said.
During the pre-taped “Talk to the People” aired on Tuesday, Briones told President Duterte that DepEd will proceed with its plans to expand further the face-to-face implementation since the pilot run has been “very successful.”
READ:
https://mb.com.ph/2021/12/28/deped-to-proceed-with-its-plans-to-expand-further-the-implementation-of-face-to-face-classes/
DepEd started the pilot run of limited face-to-face classes in November mainly to “address difficulty in monitoring and assessing learning progress remotely.”
The pilot implementation of in-person classes, DepEd said, also aims to “mitigate inequalities and unevenness in access to technology, household resources, and student skills for self-learning.”
Face-to-face classes, DepEd explained, will also allow the resumption of activities that “cannot be done at home” such as the workshop requirements, among others.
DepEd said that the resumption of face-to-face classes, even on a limited basis, can “address needs of learners” with no adult in the family qualified to provide instructional partnership with the teachers and “ease negative mental health and child development impact” of the lack of face-to-face interaction and socialization among children.
“With resumption of face-to-face classes, schools can help in the enforcement of health standards in school setting, and better delivery of ancillary services,” DepEd said.