Time to ‘fine-tune’ distance learning plan, senators urge DepEd

Local Government Committee hearing: Sen. Win Gatchalian (left) engages Sen. Francis Tolentino in a brief discussion at the Senate plenary hall before the Committee on Local Government starts its hybrid hearing Friday, June 19, 2020, on several measures such as strengthening the involvement of local communities and local government units in basic education governance, expanding the purposes and application of the Special Education Fund; creating permanent positions for tourism, education and other officers in LGUs. (Albert Calvelo/Senate PRIB)

MANILA, Philippines — With the deferment of the opening of classes for the school year 2020-2021, the Department of Education (DepEd) should now make improvements to the details of its education continuity plan for distance learning in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic, several senators said Friday.

Senator Sherwin Gatchalian, chair of the Senate basic education committee, welcomed the postponement of the class opening initially scheduled for August 24, saying that it was the “most prudent course of action” amid the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) and a surge in infections.

“This is a tough decision to make but the safety of our teachers, learners, personnel and their families should be our utmost priority,” he said in a statement.

“Between now and October 5, it is crucial that preparations continue to fine-tune all aspects of the Basic-Education-Learning Continuity Plan (BE-LCP),” he added.

DepEd should work on the completion of its self-learning modules, improving radio and television-based education programs, and other alternative learning modalities, according to Gatchalian.

“Another crucial point I would like to emphasize is to give teachers assurance in terms of their welfare and health care needs, especially if they fall ill to the coronavirus,” he added.

“The success of the BE-LCP’s roll-out depends on the confidence that we inspire among our teachers by upholding their welfare,” he said.

Further, the senator said DepEd should stretch its efforts to reach more than four million learners who are at risk of becoming out-of-school children and youth.

“Ang higit na mahalaga ay maipagpatuloy natin ang pagbibigay ng dekalidad na edukasyon para sa mga mag-aaral sa isang ligtas at mabisang paraan,” he added.

(What is important is that we would be able to provide quality education for the students in a safe and effective way.)

‘Humane decision’

Senator Francis Tolentino also welcomed the rescheduling of the opening of classes.

“Listening to the voices of other sectors especially the parents, teachers and the LGUs (local government units) paved the way for this appropriate and humane decision,” Tolentino, chair of the Senate local government committee, said in a separate statement.

“The extra days have given [to] DepEd should enable them to prepare more sustainably given the critical situation we are all in,” he added.

For his part, Senator Christopher “Bong” Go said DepEd would now have enough time to ensure that the needs of the students, teachers, learning institutions and education authorities are met with the shift to distance learning.

“Layunin po natin na masigurong may pantay pantay na pagkakataong makapag-aral ang mga kabataan, anuman ang kanilang antas sa buhay at asan man silang parte ng bansa, sa paraang ligtas at hindi masyadong pabigat sa kasalukuyan nating sitwasyon,” Go said.

(It’s our goal to ensure that every student will be given an equal opportunity to learn, whatever their status is and wherever they are, in a safe manner and in a way that it would not result in more burden.)

Senator Joel Villanueva also expressed support for DepEd’s decision to move the opening of classes to October.

“We know that it is a hard decision for Secretary [Leonor] Briones, given her determination to start the classes as scheduled in order to keep the students learning. We commend her for considering the welfare of our students and teachers in arriving at the decision,” the lawmaker said.

Nevertheless, Villanueva said DepEd should provide flexibility for schools that have already begun their classes.

“If there are no significant setbacks or hindrances in terms of their classes, the department should let them proceed,” he added.

Education Secretary Leonor Briones said the postponement of the school opening was in consideration of Metro Manila, Rizal, Bulacan, Cavite, and Laguna which are under modified enhanced community quarantine (MECQ) until August 18.

“We shall use the deferment to provide relief to the logistical limitations faced by the areas placed under MECQ and to fill in the remaining gaps of the school opening that we are currently addressing,” Briones said.

The opening of classes was initially scheduled for August 24, but several lawmakers and groups urged the DepEd to defer the start of classes in order to prepare more with the transition to blended learning.

The rescheduling of the school calendar was made possible by a law recently signed by President Rodrigo Duterte allowing the movement of the start of the school year beyond August in an event of a state of emergency or calamity. [ac]