DepEd: Distance learning a way to help decongest schools

In anticipation of over two million students enrolling this coming school year, the Department of Education sees the alternative Distance Learning Program as a way to decongest schools.

 

DepEd Undersecretary Alberto Muyot said this will allow students to do their schoolwork without coming to school every day. Instead, the students will study at home and report to school for exams and group activities.

 

"Gusto natin palawigin ito so that even ‘yung mga bata na below 16 na nahihirapan na pumasok five days a week ay puwede na ngayon na through ‘yung mga modules ay pumasok na lang doon sa eskuwelahan doon sa mga takdang araw, let's say for an exam or for a group activity," he said in a report by Sherrie Ann Torres on GMA News’ State of the Nation on Monday. 

 

The program is seen to benefit many students, as well as those working in the entertainment industry, those with health and financial problems, and those in rehabilitation centers.

 

"Through alternative delivery modes, either computer-based or iuuwi niya ‘yung module, puwede niyang gawin na lang sa bahay tapos pumasok na lang siya a few days in a month," said Muyot.

 

The program can benefit children who cannot continue their studies for various reasons, like 13-year-old Raymond Tatoy, who stopped attending classes last September after his mother died.

 

Distance learning may also appeal to parents whose children's studies are already delayed, like Genevieve Dones, whose eldest son stopped going to school because of his friends. 

 

"Maiiwasan niya ‘yung, halimbawa ganyan, nandito siya, nasa tindahan kasama namin. Kapag dumating ‘yung barkada niya, yayain siya, hindi niya maiwasang hindi sumama. Bale maaabutan na siya ng mga kapatid niya kung magtutuloy-tuloy ‘yung mga kapatid niya sa pag-aaral," Dones said in the report.

 

According to the report, the DepEd will assign individual student numbers beginning in June, in order to have easier access to student records. This will make it easy to find a student's permanent record, whether in a public or private school. 

 

This will also be useful when a student transfers to a different school. –Carmela G. Lapeña/KG, GMA News