The Department of Education (DepEd) is set to present to the Sangguniang Panlalawigan on its session Tuesday its plans for the upcoming school year.
Board members have earlier expressed interest on how Palawan will implement distance learning methods mandated the department,
considering the prohibition of face-to-face classes.
The Sangguniang Panlalawigan recently requested to hold face-to-face classes in areas of Palawan that do not have COVID-19 cases. Main proponent and provincial board member Cesareo Benedito Jr. maintained that for the most remote areas of the province, modular learning may be difficult and costly to both teachers and learners.
“Dito kasi sa Palawan, kung magdi-distribute ang mga titser ng modules, minsan ang lalayo talaga ng mga bahay ng mga estudyante. May mga estudyante na nakatira sa mga bundok, sa mga malalayong lugar,” said Benedito in an interview July 4. “Tapos kailangan pang i-supervise ng mga titser ang, mahirap iyon at costly sa mga guro.
Benedito stressed that holding face-to-face classes will still require schools to follow minimum health guidelines or even reduce class sizes to observe social distancing.
“Kasama sa recommendation ang pagsunod pa rin sa minimum health protocol, katulad ng pagsuot ng face mask, may hand sanitizer, handwashing. At for example sa mga schools natin na ang capacity ng room is 50 [persons], baka naman puwedeng 15 muna at a time” he said.
Benedito added that still have not received any feedback on their request from the provincial Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF). He is also looking forward to the DepEd’s presentation this coming Tuesday, July 7.
“Sa Tuesday, inimbita naming sila para malaman naming kung gaano talaga ka-prepared ang DepEd dito sa blended learning na binabanggit, sa online, sa TV, at sa modular learning, kung ang mga guro ay kumpleto sa laptop at sa training,” he said.
Modular learning, or delivery of “self-learning” kits, is the DepEd’s solution to those who do not have access to online, television, or radio learning that the department has been recommending in lieu of physical classes.
Recently, lawmaker Roman Romulo, chairperson for the House committee on basic education and culture, explained that self-learning kits will be delivered by DepEd officials with the help of barangay officials to the most remote areas of the country.
“Katulad ng laging binabanggit, ‘yong isang modality ay ang paghahatid ng self-learning kits. Eto ‘yong mga workbook o teksbuk, na kung face-to-face ay binibigay talaga sa ating mga estudyante,” Romulo said July 3 in a Laging Handa public briefing.
“Ang plano naman dito sa mga lugar na walang Wi-Fi, o walang signal ang radio o telebisyon, ay ibibigagay ng DepEd sa pamamagitan ng tulong ng mga barangay, mga city LGU, ay self-learning materials,” he added.
The question on how to deliver modules to the most remote areas of the country remains since the department has yet to issue guidelines on the matter.
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