Philippines
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DepEd supports resumption of physical work immersion for SHS in face-to-face classes
DepEd supports resumption of physical work immersion for SHS in face-to-face classes
To strengthen active school participation and planning for various service delivery conditions, the Department of Education (DepEd) expressed support for the reintroduction of physical work immersion in the ongoing progressive expansion of face-to-face classes.
“We are strongly suggesting that Work Immersion should be implemented for the Senior High School learners as they are nearest to accomplishing their post-secondary goals and dreams,” Secretary Leonor Magtolis Briones said.
In Senior High School (SHS), the implementation of physical Work Immersion, which is a required subject for the Technical-Vocational-Livelihood (TVL) track, was suspended during the Covid-19 situation in the country.
Likewise, Undersecretary for Curriculum and Instruction Diosdado San Antonio also stressed that the Department has created guidelines on Work Immersion before the Covid-19 pandemic.
“Puwede naman po kasi gawin ang immersion kahit hindi pa pinapayagan ang limited face-to-face classes noon, pero ngayong may face-to-face classes na, siyempre ibabalik natin face-to-face immersion (It is possible to do immersion even if limited face-to-face classes were not allowed then, but now that there are face-to-face classes, of course we will return face-to-face immersion),” San Antonio said.
He added through the immersion, SHS students can also have the opportunity to experience the industry based on their chosen specializations.
San Antonio explained that the reintroduction of the immersion program is among the priorities of DepEd as it implements the progressive expansion of face-to-face classes.
Should the SHS students be allowed to return to immersion programs, San Antonio underscored the need to ensure that they will be subjected to the guidelines and protocols set by the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-EID) --- regardless of the industry they are in.
In the recently approved Revised Operational Guidelines on the Progressive Expansion of face-to-face Learning Modality (DepEd-DOH Joint Memorandum Circular No. 1, s. 2022), DepEd prescribes schools to fully comply with the School Safety Assessment Tool (SSAT) which has been revised to allow more schools to eventually reopen.
Meanwhile, Assistant Secretary for National Academy of Sports and Field Operations Malcolm Garma shared that schools undergoing assessments should prioritize the inclusion of SHS students in the expansion of in-person classes.
“Naniniwala tayo na ang Grades 11 and 12 ay kailangang bumalik sa kanilang klase, so ‘yong immersion natin ay kasama sa babalik sa ating face-to-face classes (We believe that Grades 11 and 12 need to return to their classes, so our immersion is included in the reintroduction of face-to-face classes),” Garma explained.