DepEd: No ‘one-size fits all’ solution in learning amid health crisis

THE DEPARTMENT of Education (DepEd) today emphasized that there is no "one-size fits all" solution in implementing education and learning amid the COVID-19 health crisis.  

“Walang one-size fits all dahil iba’t iba ang kanilang sitwasyon sa mga rehiyon. Yung iba mayroon connectivity, radio, at television pero yung iba wala lahat,” DepEd Secretary Leonor Briones said during Tuesday's edition of the Laging Handa Public Briefing.

She cited that there are different approaches in students’ learning in various regions in the country.

“Bawat rehiyon iba’t iba ang implementation kaya sinusurvey kung ilan mga bata ang may cellphone o may connectivity ba sila o wala,” Briones said.

She added there are ways to learn that does need face-to-face interaction in schools, following President Rodrigo Duterte’s call to postpone any physical learning until COVID-19 vaccine is discovered.

The DepEd chief said that printed materials will be distributed house-to-house to children and parents through the help of the local government unit.

"Itong hardcopy o mga printed na materyales ng modules ay idedeliver para sa walang access, connectivity, radio, tv o cellphone," Briones added. 

In partnership with the Presidential Communications Operations Office (PCOO), the DepEd also pushes for educational TV programs and radio-based instructions particularly to students with no online access to learning materials.

“Para sa walang internet at sa walang paraan para macontact ang teacher, nandyan ang telebisyon at radio-based instructions,” Briones said.

For students with internet access, the DepEd Commons website can be accessed by students and teachers where online learning resources are available.

"Ang DepEd Commons na kung saan more than 8 million na yung subscribers nandoon ang curriculum lessons na puwede makuha online para sa may mga connection sa internet," Briones said.

Meanwhile, the DepEd reiterated that the opening of classes will start on August 24, 2020 but some private schools affiliated with universities and state colleges have the leeway to start classes in September 2020. 

"Sa tulong nng local government at sa tulong nga ating communications system, makakapagdevise tayo kung paano ang pinakamabisang paraan na maturuan ang mga bata," Briones said. (By Joedie Mae Boliver)