Error Watch will check complaints about DepEd learning modules

DAVAO CITY, Davao del Sur, Philippines — The Department of Education (DepEd) has set up a monitoring program to look into complaints of errors in learning modules in Davao region after the agency’s attention was called by netizens.

Jenelito Atillo, spokesperson for the DepEd in the region, said the agency had set up a hotline for parents and other concerned individuals to raise their problems about the modules.

“Error Watch is a solution the DepEd has provided to respond immediately to module errors. We continue to listen to all complaints but only the valid ones,” Atillo said.

He said, though, that it would not be proper to post the concerns on social media even before informing the DepEd, schools or teachers, if the complainants wanted immediate solutions.

Not all modules originated from the department, he said, pointing out that it had partnered with private schools and other learning institutions in preparing them. But he said the DepEd was in close contact with these partners if the modules needed corrections.

Social media bashing

Atillo said some teachers had already been bashed on social media because of the reported “errors” in the modules.

“[The teachers] are already flexible. Many have already gotten over the negative public reactions,” he said. But Atillo asked the public to be more prudent in their criticisms as the teachers, like them, were also in a very difficult situation.

“They (teachers) are doing their best to continuously provide the needed education to the pupils; and so with the DepEd, who is moving heaven and earth to reach out to the pupils despite this difficult situation of pandemic,”Atillo said.

He noted the transfer of more students from private to public schools because of the pandemic.

Fewer enrollees

“Although it has been a normal thing every year to see more transferees from the private schools, the extraordinary exodus this year may be due to the economic downtrend [brought about by] the pandemic,” Atillo said.

Compared to the 1.16 million enrollees in public schools in 2019, only 1.12 million have enrolled in the region’s public schools this year, or a 3-percent drop from the previous year’s level.

But in private schools in the region, the total number of enrollees dropped by almost half, from 196,640 last year to only 96,750 enrollees this year.

Education Secretary Leonor Briones, however, decided to extend the enrollment in public school up to November, hoping more pupils would enlist.

—Judy Quiros