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Teachers possibly under stress in preparation for blended learning —DepEd exec


Teachers are possibly facing stress in preparation for the blended learning approach this coming school year amid the pandemic, Department of Education (DepEd) Undersecretary Tonisito Umali said on Sunday.

Interviewed on Dobol B sa News TV, Umali acknowledged the burden of teachers as they prepare for different modalities in teaching.

“Maaari po talagang nai-stress ang buong Kagawaran ng Edukasyon kasi medyo malaki po talaga ang hamon na magpatuloy ng pag-aaral sa gitna ng pandemyang ito,” he said.

“Ang kabaligtaran naman noon, wala naman po tayong gagawin. Ang ating Kalihim Leonor Briones ay nagdesisyon na dapat ang edukasyon ay magpatuloy,” he added.

Umali made the statement when asked about the situation of teachers amid reports that they are encountering challenges in working on new tasks for blended learning.

On Friday, DepEd announced that President Rodrigo Duterte has approved its recommendation to move the opening of School Year 2020-2021 from August 24 to October 5 amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

Secretary Leonor Briones said the recommendation was submitted on August 6 after Metro Manila, Cavite, Bulacan, Laguna and Rizal were reverted to modified enhanced community quarantine (MECQ).

Umali explained that the MECQ affected the preparation of teachers because restriction in mobility and limited public transportation were imposed.

Several groups including parents, teachers, and lawmakers earlier called on DepEd to defer the August 24 opening of classes to allow the department to fully prepare for distance learning.

“We really need to prepare on how to implement distance learning modalities,” Umali said.

Meanwhile, private schools may start their classes before the October 5 school opening as long as only distance learning modalities will be implemented and that there are no face-to-face classes, DepEd said Saturday. —Joviland Rita/KG, GMA News

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