PH ready for distance learning by August 24, says Gatchalian

MANILA, Philippines — Senator Sherwin Gatchalian said he is “convinced” that the country is ready for distance learning once classes start on Aug. 24.

Gatchalian, who chairs the Senate education committee, told reporters in an online interview that most of the school divisions he has talked with expressed that they are “ready for” and “capable” with the opening of classes.

“Yes, I’m convinced that by Aug. 24, ang distance learning ay kakayanin natin. Most of the school divisions na nakausap ko ay ready, most of the school divisions na nakausap ko ay capable,” Gatchalian said when asked if he thought the country’s education sector is ready to start classes by that time.

(Yes, I am convinced that by Aug. 24, we can attain distance learning. Most of the school divisions I have talked with said that they were ready. Most of the school divisions that I have talked with are capable.)

In May, the Department of Education (DepEd)  set the opening of classes on Aug. 24.

But the only thing that Gatchalian was against, he said, was the holding of face-to-face learning on  the scheduled school opening.

“Di lang ako sang-ayon is to revert to face-to-face (modality) by Aug. 24,” he said. “Dahil unang-una, marami nang preparations yung mga school divisions natin, at masasayang yung kanilang mga preparations. Pangalawa, delikado pa rin talaga kasi anything can happen by Aug. 24,” he said.

(I am against  reverting to face to face learning by Aug.  24. First, most of the preparations by school divisions will go to waste if this happens. Second, it is still dangerous to do this because anything can happen by Aug. 24.)

President Rodrigo Duterte previously approved DepEd’s proposal to conduct limited face-to-face learning in “low-risk” modified general community quarantine areas.

But DepEd Secretary Leonor Briones noted that limited classroom classes may only be allowed to start in January 2021.

Gatchalian said face-to face learning may be possible by that time should the country’s COVID-19 go down, and if a vaccine against the disease will be available by October.

‘Preparations ongoing’

Meanwhile, Gatchalian shared that based on an independent survey that he has conducted, several school divisions said that their preparations for opening of classes was “ongoing.”

“If you remember, the preparation, the framework comes from the national, DepEd, but the printing and the preparation of the module, sa local,” he said regarding the self-learning modules to be distributed to students.

(If you remember, the preparations, the framework comes from the national, DepEd, but the printing, and the preparation of the module comes from the local.)

“So with that preparation of the modules, almost mga 80 to 90 percent prepared na yung school divisions,” he added.

(So with the preparation of the modules, school divisions said that they were 80 to 90 percent prepared.)

Aside from this, webinars and other training for teachers in preparation for distance are ongoing,  Gatchalian added.

EDV