Manila Bulletin
Philippines
DepEd told: Blended learning not a 'cure-all' solution to education problems
Philippines
DepEd told: Blended learning not a 'cure-all' solution to education problems
DepEd told: Blended learning not a 'cure-all' solution to education problems
Published Apr 26, 2023 12:00 pm
A group of education workers on Wednesday, April 26, warned the Department of Education (DepEd) against using blended learning as a “cure-all” solution to the problems in the basic education sector.
(ALI VICOY / MANILA BULLETIN)
Blended learning, as defined by DepEd, refers to a learning delivery that “combines face-to-face with any or a mix of online distance learning, modular distance learning, and TV/Radio-based Instruction.” During the school closures brought about by the Covid-19 pandemic, blended learning was among the alternative delivery modalities used by schools to ensure that learning will continue. However, the Alliance of Concerned Teachers (ACT) Philippines raised concerns over the DepEd’s “apparent instant prescription” of blended learning as the “solution to a myriad of problems that bog down the holding of in-person classes.” ACT noted that the same modality “largely contributed” to the learning crisis in the country. “Of late, blended learning has been the DepEd’s go-to solution for power outage, oil spill, and intolerable summer heat, even calling the modality an innovative approach to classroom and teacher shortage,” ACT Chairperson Vladimer Quetua. “While it can be useful as a quick and temporary response when in-person classes are difficult to hold due to unforeseen circumstances, it should not be abused as the perennial solution, especially to problems caused by lack of foresight, poor planning and inadequate budget allocation,” he added. ACT pointed out that distance learning problems continue to hound teachers and learners as they “remain unresolved after two years of its implementation—inadequacy of modules, lack of gadgets and internet support, and learning loss.” This, Quetua added, will not bring the country closer to education recovery as “we need strategic solutions to the ailments of the education system.” Quetua pointed out that “longer the government denies that education shortages should be seriously addressed, the more difficult the road to education recovery becomes.” ACT reiterated the need to build adequate classrooms, hire more teachers and education support personnel, and provide classroom needs to improve learning conditions. “These measures need the full fiscal support and staunch political will of the national government,” Quetua said. “We also need to revert the school calendar to its pre-pandemic schedule at the soonest time possible for us to maximize the benefits of face-to-face classes,” he added. RELATED STORY: [https://mb.com.ph/2023/4/26/blended-learning-implemented-by-some-schools-amid-extreme-heat-dep-ed](https://mb.com.ph/2023/4/26/blended-learning-implemented-by-some-schools-amid-extreme-heat-dep-ed)
(ALI VICOY / MANILA BULLETIN)
Blended learning, as defined by DepEd, refers to a learning delivery that “combines face-to-face with any or a mix of online distance learning, modular distance learning, and TV/Radio-based Instruction.” During the school closures brought about by the Covid-19 pandemic, blended learning was among the alternative delivery modalities used by schools to ensure that learning will continue. However, the Alliance of Concerned Teachers (ACT) Philippines raised concerns over the DepEd’s “apparent instant prescription” of blended learning as the “solution to a myriad of problems that bog down the holding of in-person classes.” ACT noted that the same modality “largely contributed” to the learning crisis in the country. “Of late, blended learning has been the DepEd’s go-to solution for power outage, oil spill, and intolerable summer heat, even calling the modality an innovative approach to classroom and teacher shortage,” ACT Chairperson Vladimer Quetua. “While it can be useful as a quick and temporary response when in-person classes are difficult to hold due to unforeseen circumstances, it should not be abused as the perennial solution, especially to problems caused by lack of foresight, poor planning and inadequate budget allocation,” he added. ACT pointed out that distance learning problems continue to hound teachers and learners as they “remain unresolved after two years of its implementation—inadequacy of modules, lack of gadgets and internet support, and learning loss.” This, Quetua added, will not bring the country closer to education recovery as “we need strategic solutions to the ailments of the education system.” Quetua pointed out that “longer the government denies that education shortages should be seriously addressed, the more difficult the road to education recovery becomes.” ACT reiterated the need to build adequate classrooms, hire more teachers and education support personnel, and provide classroom needs to improve learning conditions. “These measures need the full fiscal support and staunch political will of the national government,” Quetua said. “We also need to revert the school calendar to its pre-pandemic schedule at the soonest time possible for us to maximize the benefits of face-to-face classes,” he added. RELATED STORY: [https://mb.com.ph/2023/4/26/blended-learning-implemented-by-some-schools-amid-extreme-heat-dep-ed](https://mb.com.ph/2023/4/26/blended-learning-implemented-by-some-schools-amid-extreme-heat-dep-ed)