Teachers climb rocky roads, ride boats to bring learning modules to students

The Department of Education (DepEd) said public school teachers have been preparing for the opening of the school year 2020-2021 on August 24. 

This includes printing of learning modules and bringing these to students, DepEd Region 7 director Dr. Salustiano Jimenez said, according to a report on GMA News' Unang Balita on Tuesday.

In Sarangani, Davao Occidental, teachers even rode boats and went on rocky paths just to reach remote areas and deliver the modules, as seen in a video from GMA Regional TV One Mindanao.

Some teachers however said they lack materials to print the learning modules.

In Sitio Bahar, Barangay Pandan, South Upi, Maguindanao, a preschool teacher appealed for donations of bond paper.

"Tumulong sa amin kahit man lang doon sa bond paper at ink," preschool teacher Nemia Ramogon said.

Jimenez however said teachers do not need to solicit donations for the reproduction of learning modules as the DepEd and local government units have budgets for these.

Blended learning

Meanwhile, teachers in South Upi said it would be hard for students in mountainous regions to adjust to modular learning since they are used to face-to-face classes.

One teacher said they have scheduled Mondays to Wednesdays for the issuance of modules, Wednesdays for the submission of accomplished modules, then Thursdays for the issuance of modules for the next two days.

Meanwhile, in Calasiao, Pangasinan, some parents have started preparing their children for online classes, but the problem is that young children think their parents are just playing with them, according to a Balitang Amianan report aired on Unang Balita.

DepEd Secretary Leonor Briones confirmed that classes will start as scheduled on August 24 in public schools.

“Ang pagbubukas ng eskuwelahan ay August 24. Ito ay blended learning. Walang face to face. At sa mga lugar na may risk assessment galing sa IATF, susundin natin ang kanilang patakaran,” DepEd Secretary Leonor Briones said on Monday.

The DepEd secretary earlier said school officials in areas with low risk for COVID-19 infections can apply for limited face-to-face classes.

The requests of school officials will be approved by the regional directors and will be under the review of the DepEd, she added.

Briones noted that the ‘starting point’ of the application for limited face-to-face classes will depend on the assessment of Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF), if the concerned areas are classified as low risk. —KG, GMA News