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DepEd: P1B allotted to strengthen the progressive expansion of face-to-face classes
DepEd: P1B allotted to strengthen the progressive expansion of face-to-face classes
As more schools expected to participate in the progressive expansion of limited face-to-face classes, the Department of Education (DepEd) has allotted around P1 billion support funds for all public schools nationwide.
“We are also adding resources, in addition to the regular budget. We are spending one billion more to strengthen the progressive expansion for schools,” Secretary Leonor Magtolis Briones explained in a mix of English and Filipino.
“The progressive face-to-face as part of blended learning has already started as early as February,” Briones said.
With eased Covid-19 restrictions, DepEd anticipates more schools participating in the expansion phase of limited face-to-face classes. “Mas lalong dadami ang mga schools na sasali dahil pagpasok ng NCR, malaking bulto ng eskwelahan yan pati sa other places na nasa level 1 at 2 na (The number of schools that will join will increase especially with the participation of NCR , there will be a large volume of schools as well as other places that are already at level 1 and 2),” she added
Meanwhile, Undersecretary for Finance Annalyn Sevilla reported that the DepEd has primarily prepared Maintenance and Other Operating Expenses (MOOE) budget allocations to implement Covid-19 safety measures in schools and provide learning materials blended learning.
Citing data as of March 1, DepEd said that there are 4,295 schools out of 6,213 schools that are implementing the limited face-to-face classes across the country.
DepEd said that the P1 billion budget will be distributed to all public schools and can also be used to provide television, speakers, and laptops for classrooms to support blended learning in the expansion phase.
Sevilla said that DepEd Central Office Budget Division has downloaded the Sub-AROs last March 4 to the respective Divisions.
READ:
https://mb.com.ph/2022/03/02/p977-48-m-allotted-for-progressive-expansion-of-face-to-face-classes-deped/
Meanwhile, DepEd also reiterated that schools will still implement blended learning as the pandemic risks are still present and for the learners to develop their digital skills.
“Gusto ko lang i-emphasize na hindi ibig sabihin na ngayong mag-progressive face-to-face na tayo ay iiwanan na natin yung konsepto ng blended learning (I just want to emphasize that now that we are implementing progressive face-to-face , it does not mean that we will abandon the concept of blended learning),” Briones said.
“Kailangan pa rin yung online, hindi yung dati nating nakasanayan (We still need the online, not the one we were used to),” she added.
RELATED STORY:
https://mb.com.ph/2022/03/14/wheres-the-budget-deped-urged-to-swiftly-mobilize-funds-for-in-person-classes/