DepEd maintains preparations for pilot run of face-to-face classes

MANILA, Philippines — Despite the deferment of the pilot run of face-to-face classes, the Department of Education (DepEd) said its preparations will continue, hopeful that it will be allowed to address gaps in the students’ learning process.

In a televised briefing on Monday, DepEd Undersecretary Nepomuceno Malaluan underscored that allowing limited in-person classes would help the students who may not have gadgets or guardians at home amid the implementation of blended or distance learning system.

“Ang kadahilanan rin kaya pinaghahandaan ito, alam natin na yung pag combine ng face-to-face classes dito sa distance learning ay mahalaga para ma-address yung mga challenges at limitations ng pure distance learning,” Malaluan said.

(The reason why we’re still preparing for it is that we know that if we combine face-to-face classes with distance learning, it will address the challenges and limitations of pure distance learning.)

“Malaki po yung maitutulong kung magkakaroon ng pagkakataon ung mga guro na makita muli ang kanilang magaaral at makapagbigay ng supplemental na pagtuturo sa mga bata…Yung nahihirapan sa tahanan, kakulangan ng kagamitan for distance learning, yung mga batang walang gumagabay sa tahanan, yun po ang tutok nito,” he added.

(It will greatly help if the teachers get the chance to see their students again and give them supplemental teaching. This is for those who are having a hard time at home, who do not have equipment for distance learning, for children who do not have guardians to help them at home.)

In January, President Rodrigo Duterte approved the conduct of face-to-face classes pilot implementation in low-risk areas but recalled the decision due to the detection of new COVID-19 variants.  

Still, Malaluan said the DepEd remains in discussion with the Department of Health (DOH) to craft guidelines once the President finally allows the pilot run of face-to-face classes.

“Nagkaroon na nga po ng pangunang pag-share sa IATF [Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases] noong isang araw ang DOH at DepEd nitong mga guidelines na ito na very stringent para masiguro yung proteksyon ng mag-aaral natin at kahandaan ng mga paaralan,” Malaluan said.

(The DOH and the DepEd shared to the IATF the stringent guidelines to ensure the protection of our students and the readiness of our schools.)

The DepEd has previously said it is eyeing to conduct the pilot study of face-to-face classes in 100 schools.

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the delivery of education shifted to blended or distance learning where learning modules, television, radio and the internet are utilized as media of instruction.

The upcoming school year 2021-2022, which will begin on September 13, will still be conducted via the blended learning mode.

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