MANILA, Philippines — A three-week, non-mandatory learning camp will be conducted in July to supplement the lessons that students received in asynchronous classes, the Department of Education (DepEd) said on Tuesday.
According to DepEd Spokesperson and Assistant Secretary Francis Bringas, the learning camp was meant to recover the possible learning losses due to the implementation of asynchronous classes in March and April because of high summer temperatures.
READ: DepEd to public schools: Hold online classes on April 29, 30
“Ikakasa din naman natin ang ating National Learning Camp by July so hopefully dito sa ating National Learning Camp, maraming learners pa rin ang magpa-participate, lalong-lalo na sa mga challenged or academically-challenged dahil na sa mga nangyaring heat wave,” Bringas said in a radio interview on Radyo 630.
(We will implement our National Learning Camp by July, so hopefully, many learners will still participate, especially those challenged or academically challenged because of the heat wave.)
Bringas noted the difference between students’ learning in asynchronous and face-to-face classes, as the DepEd observed during the pandemic years.
“Sa dalawang years ng pandemic nating kung saan wala tayong face-to-face classes, meron tayong nakikitang natutunan ng mga bata pero hindi sapat gaya ng natutunan nila kapag naka face-to-face sila or naka-asynchronous sila sa loob ng mga classroom,” he said.
(In the two years of the pandemic, students still learned when there were no face-to-face classes, but it was not enough, like what they knew when they did face-to-face or held synchronous classes inside the classroom.)
The official added that the DepEd will check on the learning outputs of students in the asynchronous sessions.
READ: Teachers not required to report in school, reminds DepEd
“We are hoping na ang mga teachers natin, hindi pa rin nalilimutan yung mga techniques nila kung paano magtrabaho o magturo habang naka-asynchronous sila, so ‘yan pa rin yung tutukan natin na imo-monitor natin sa field kung talagang may nangyayaring learning pa rin kahit na suspension of face-to-face classes,” he added.
(We are hoping that our teachers have not forgotten their working or teaching techniques while holding asynchronous classes, so we will focus on or monitor in the field if there is still quality learning even if face-to-face classes are suspended.)
On Sunday, the DepEd ordered the implementation of asynchronous classes or distance learning in all public schools nationwide from April 29 to 30 due to high temperatures and a nationwide transport strike.