Basic needs for blended learning still not in place a day before class opening —teachers’ group

A teachers’ group on Sunday said the basic needs for blended learning such as self-learning modules are not yet in place with only one day remaining before classes start on Monday.

Interviewed on Dobol B sa News TV, Alliance of Concerned Teachers (ACT) Philippines secretary general Raymond Basilio said students in some areas in Quezon City still have no copies of self-learning modules.

For the meantime, some schools distributed diagnostic tests that were prepared locally while students wait for the printed copies of their lessons, Basilio said.

“Nasayang po 'yung panahon ng pag-aaantay at pagkakansela noong August 24 at hindi po pa rin tayo in place doon sa mga basic na kailangan para sa opening,” he said.

Basilio added that some teachers in Sarangani were not able to give modules to students because they are restricted by the localized lockdowns in areas of concern due to the threat of COVID-19.

Aside from these, some teachers still have no laptops to use in monitoring their students in online learning.

According to Basilio, many teachers remained busy preparing for the class opening.

Due to the COVID-19 threat, the Department of Education decided to have classes through blended learning, where students do not have to go to school to participate in classes to avoid transmission of the virus.

It also removed around 60% of the curriculum to adjust for the remote learning approach this coming school year, which was moved from August 24 to October 5.

The department has been preparing for ways to deliver education to students through self-learning modules, broadcast media, and the internet.

The DepEd on Saturday said it is ready for the opening of classes on Monday, and has made plans to address contingencies.

A total of 24.72 million students have enrolled for school year 2020-2021 as of Friday, DepEd Undersecretary Tonisito Umali said on Saturday during the Laging Handa briefing. —Joviland Rita/KG, GMA News