Gatchalian thinks DepEd 90% ready for class opening at local level

Senator Sherwin Gatchalian believes that the Department of Education is nearly 90% ready for next month's opening of classes at the local level, where blended forms of learning methods will be used under the COVID-19 health threat.

In a Dobol B sa News TV interview, Gatchalian said he has been in coordination with the DepEd and its divisions in various localities to see how ready they are for the resumption of classes set on August 24.

"Sa ngayon, so far, sa pakikipag-ugnayan ko sa DepEd at sa mga division, malaking kahandaan na ang kanilang nagawa at patuloy pa silang naghahanda," he said.

"I would say mga 90% [ready] at the local level," he added, referring to the various DepEd divisions.

Education Secretary Leonor Briones Briones said the DepEd has been preparing for the implementation of blended learning method as the department maintained its commitment “to make education available and thriving, even in the most difficult time.”

She reiterated that no face-to-face classes will be conducted until a vaccine against COVID-19 is made available, in compliance with the directive of President Rodrigo Duterte.

“Radio, television, online, and modular learning – which are pre-existing methods and were already used for decades – are being prepared and updated for this year. At the same time, teachers are being trained on utilizing newer platforms and innovative tools to aid their professional development,” she said.

Gatchalian, who chairs the Senate committee on basic education, clarified that in the case of modular learning, the DepEd divisions are the ones tasked to print out the learning modules to be distributed among students.

Presently, DepEd divisions are printing these modules by quarterly or monthly, depending on their budget and on the situation in their areas, he said.

The learning modules are divided into two parts -- one for parents of kindergarten to Grade 3 students to provide instructions on how to use the modules, and one for the learners themselves.

"Itong self-learning module na ito, merong very clear instruction kung paano sila matututo at ano ang pag-aaralan nila, at every week kokolektahin ng teacher yan para makita kung sila ay natuto o hindi. Ito ay gagawin natin habang naka-community quarantine," Gatchalian said.

Considering that the  COVID-19 situation in the country has remained uncertain in the coming months, Gatchalian said it would be better to pursue blended or distance forms of learning in all areas nationwide, even as there are proposals for face-to-face classes in places with zero to low-risk of COVID-19 transmission.

"Sa ganitong sitwasyon, talagang patuloy na tumataas ang bilang ng active cases sa ating bansa, almost 40,000 plus na. At yung mga lugar na dating walang COVID tulad ng Romblon, tulad ng Basilan, tulad ng iba pang mga isla, ngayon meron na," he said.

"Dahil itong sitwasyon natin sa COVID ay talagang uncertain, habang naka-community quarantine tayo, sang-ayon ako na ilagay muna sa distance learning itong pagtuturo natin para hindi malagay sa alanganin," he added. —LBG, GMA News