Quarantine status being considered in crafting class suspension policies—DepEd

MANILA, Philippines — Quarantine classifications, not just inclement weather, will be considered in crafting the policy on class suspension, the Department of Education (DepEd) said Wednesday.

During the hearing of the Senate committee on basic education, arts, and culture, DepEd Undersecretary Nepomuceno Malaluan said the agency has yet to come up with a policy on suspension of classes due to the many factors needed to be considered in distancing learning.

“Natatanong ito at in truth ay wala pang issued policy ang Department of Education as of this time,” Malaluan said during the Senate hearing of the committee on basic education, arts, and culture.

(This is being asked and in truth, we have yet to issue a policy as of this time.)

Malaluan cited the possible restrictions of some activities under a stricter quarantine classification.

“Halimbawa yung delivery and pick up of the learning modules, so hindi talaga magagawa yan. Kung walang learning resources at walang capacity for communication then obviously the class will be suspended. Those are the considerations we’ll have to take,” he said.

(For example, the delivery and pick of learning modules can’t be done. If there are no learning resources and there is no capacity for communication, then obviously the class will be suspended. Those are the considerations we’ll have to take.)

“Like the rules of thumb before na Signal No. 2, wala nang pasok ang lahat. Because that is exactly what the situation we are in now where learners are prevented from coming out and we have prepared precisely for that situation,” he added.

(Like the rules of thumb before that when there is Signal No.2, there are no more classes. Because that is exactly what the situation we are in now where learners are prevented from coming out and we have prepared precisely for that situation.)

Malaluan also said it could be up to the local government units’ discretion to suspend classes just like the situation before the pandemic.

For this school year, DepEd is implementing modular learning where students are provided with printed materials such as textbooks, activity sheets and study guides.

DepEd will also utilize other modes of learning such as online, television and radio broadcasts to supplement the modules. [ac]