Hiring of more learning support aides proposed to boost distance education

 (Contributed photo)

MANILA, Philippines — A lawmaker is proposing the employment of additional learning support aides to help struggling students under the distance learning set-up amid the pandemic.

During the hearing of the Senate Committee on Basic Education, Arts, and Culture on Friday on the proposed conversion of Villa Integrated School, Masbate 3rd District Rep. Wilton Kho said that many students are having a hard time especially with difficult topics.

Kho was invited to the hearing and sponsored the House version of the measure.

Kho, however, noted that the Department of Education (DepEd) has set in place some measures to address the issue such as the employment of learning support aides.

“‘Yung learning support aides sila yung mga parang graduate of education na nagtuturo sa mga bata per barangay,” Kho said.

(Learning support aides are education graduates who help teach children in barangays.)

“Siguro, if I may suggest, if ever magtuloy-tuloy itong modular education natin, siguro mas magandang dagdagan pa natin itong mga learning support aides para mas makatulong sa mga kabataan natin,” he added.

(I suggest that we hire more learning support aides who can reach out and help the children.)

In October 2020, DepEd employed learning support aides who “will work together in collaboration with teachers and contribute to the provision of learning opportunities that promote achievement and progression of learners.”

According to DepEd, the learning support aides’ main duties in collaboration with teachers are: (1) guide learners and households on the chosen learning delivery modalities, 2) render assistance to the teacher in the lesson preparation and delivery, and 3) monitor and track learners’ progress and achievement.

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