DepEd: Private schools may hold hybrid, remote classes beyond Nov. 2

This photo shows 7-year-old Rajo Filio, a Grade 2 student in a private school in Quezon City, participating in his online class on Wednesday, August 12, 2020. Contributed photo

MANILA, Philippines — Private schools will be allowed to keep using blended or total distance learning beyond November 2, the Department of Education (DepEd) said Monday.

The Deped has revised its earlier order to allow private schools to pick three options: five days of face-to-face instruction, full distance learning, or blended learning (three days of in-person instruction and two days of distance instruction, or four days of in-person instruction and one day of distance instruction).

DepEd Order No. 44 maintained that all public schools must complete five-day face-to-face classes by November 2. Exceptions included schools authorized by the regional director, those whose classes were canceled due to disasters, and those using alternate delivery means.

DepEd ordered all public and private schools to shift to full face-to-face classes by November 2.

READ: DepEd orders all schools to shift to face-to-face classes by November 2

In a separate statement, DepEd said that it is confident in the benefits of face-to-face classes for academic development and overall mental health and well-being of learners.

However, it said it recognizes the current situation of private schools due to COVID-19, citing their investment in online learning technologies, the development of best practices on blended learning, and the closure of small private schools because of losses.

Thus it will allow private schools to implement blended or full remote learning beyond Nov. 2.

“DepEd will leave the discussion on the learning modality to be implemented by private education institutions to the schools, the parents/guardians, and the learners,” it said.

“DepEd, however, hopes that parents/guardians of private school learners would not miss the abundance of scientific studies available on the advantages of in-person classes over online learning,” DepEd added.

The department said it will also expedite the review of its blended learning program to ensure that “it will benefit our learners and essentially address learning issues.”

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