Blended learning in schools still under repair by Aug. 29 --- VP Duterte

Public schools still reeling from the damage of last month’s Typhoon “Egay” will implement blended learning if classrooms are not repaired in time for the opening of classes, Vice President and Education Secretary Sara Duterte said on Monday, Aug. 14.

(Photo by Jojo Rinoza / MANILA BULLETIN)

The opening of classes for school year 2023-24 is scheduled on Aug. 29.

Duterte, who serves as the chief of the Department of Education (DepEd) in a concurrent capacity, made the recommendation during the “Brigada Eskwela” program held in San Miguel, Manila.

The official said the blended learning modality has been the direction of the Education department, which she heads.

“Yung mga tinamaan po ng bagyong Egay, sila po ‘yung priority natin sa budget natin for repairs this year (Those hit by Typhoon Egay, they will be our priority in our budget for repairs this year),” she said in a media interview.

“Pero kung hindi po umabot ‘yung repairs nila by opening ng August 29, ay immediately po na i-implement ng ating paaralan ‘yung blended learning program natin dahil wala na pong learning disruption (But if their repairs do not make it in time by opening on August 29, our schools will immediately implement the blended learning program because there is no longer a learning disruption),” she added.

“Ang direction ang Department of Education lagi pong blended learning or in-person classes so tuloy-tuloy ang pag-aaral kahit meron problema sa classroom (The direction of the Department of Education is always blended learning or in-person classes so learning will continue despite problems in classroom),” she stressed.

Data culled from DepEd showed 479 schools in nine regions have sustained infrastructure damage due to the recent typhoons “Egay” and “Falcon” and the southwest monsoon (habagat) as of Aug. 14.