DepEd, US Peace Corps hold training to enhance student learning amid pandemic

The Department of Education (DepEd) and the United States Peace Corps conducted virtual training on utilizing newly developed distance learning materials for more than 1,000 teachers, principals, and supervisors.

The virtual training took place from October 12 to 29.

“This series of trainings marks the culmination of a 14-month collaboration between Peace Corps and DepEd to develop and validate learning activity sheets before training educators to use them and then distributing them to students in indigenous communities, geographically isolated areas, and some of the most resource-challenged communities in the Philippines,” the US Embassy said in a statement on Friday.

The learning activity sheets will supplement existing self-learning modules for students in over 8,000 multi-grade schools nationwide and cover all key subjects, including Math, Science, and English.  

“Studies show that high-quality instructional materials significantly increase academic outcomes by allowing students to engage more deeply and meaningfully with their learning,” said DepEd Bureau of Learning Delivery director Leila Areola.

“This has never been more important than now, with students still schooling online due to the ongoing pandemic,” she added.

The US Peace Corps is the US government’s premier volunteer organization, which has supported Filipino students since 1961, according to the embassy.

The embassy said that more than 9,300 American volunteers have served as co-teachers or filled other roles requested by host communities across the country. 

“Although there are presently no volunteers in the Philippines due to COVID-19, Peace Corps is devoting all other available resources to supporting DepEd and other partners in responding to and recovering from the impacts of the pandemic,” it said. — VBL, GMA News