The Department of Education (DepED) bared the reasons on why they will allow the continuation of the blended learning scheme in private schools for school year 2022-2023.
Under DepED Order No. 44, private schools were granted the option to continue the implementation of the following learning modalities past Nov. 2, 2022: five days of in-person classes, blended learning modality, or full distance learning.
All public schools, however, were mandated to transition to five-day full face-to-face classes beginning Nov. 2.
Asked why public schools were given the aforementioned options, DepED stood their ground and enumerated the reasons on why they made this decision.
“Unang una nabatid po natin ang sitwasyon ng ating mga private schools dulot ng naging pandemya for the last two years. Most of them invested infrastructure to switch to online learning (First of all, we are aware of the situation of our private schools in the last two years due to the pandemic. Most of them invested in infrastructure to switch to online learning),” said DepED Spokesperson Michael Poa in a televised interview over One PH on Tuesday, Oct. 18.
“Pangalawa ay nakita naman natin na talagang nakapag-institutionalize sila ng best practices in terms of blended learning (Additionally, we saw that they were able to institutionalize best practices in terms of blended learning),” Poa added.
The department, according to Poa, is “guided by the studies abroad,” stressing that these have proven the benefits and advantages of in-person classes not just in the academic development of students but also in their mental well-being.
Ushered by these studies, DepED will push for the resumption of five-day in-person classes in public schools.
Challenges faced by public schools
Teachers’ Dignity Coalition (TDC), on the other hand, highlighted the insufficient number of classrooms, school furniture, and educators. These challenges were acknowledged by Poa who stated that DepED has “plans” to address these issues.
“It is a challenge for DepED and teachers, pero syempre ang talagang gusto natin ay maibalik ang ating learners sa paaralan dahil kailangan na nating tutukan ang learning nila (It is a challenge for DepED and teachers, but of course what we really want is to bring our learners back to school because we need to focus on their learning),” said Poa.
“That is why we have this leeway of exemption in the DO. We will try to release the guidelines as soon as possible so that we can help our teachers,” he furthered.
Under DO No. 44, public schools must implement five-day in-person classes starting Nov. 2. Granted for exception are schools "deemed unable to implement face-to-face classes" and were excused by the Regional Director concerned.