Blended learning to continue but in 'very specific' places —Marcos

Blended learning will continue in the upcoming school year but in "very specific" areas amid the COVID-19 pandemic, President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. told Cabinet officials on Tuesday.

During the meeting, Marcos asked Vice President and Education Secretary Sara Duterte to identify areas where blended learning would still be implemented.

"Ang gawin na lang natin [ay] i-identify saan 'yung areas na magbe-blended learning para maka-focus tayo. Ihanda yung mga devices at mga kailangan nila na noong pandemic hindi nasu-supply-an sa mga bata," a Palace statement on Wednesday quoted Marcos as saying during the meeting.

(What we are going to do is to identify the areas that will implement blended learning so we can focus. Let's prepare devices and other needs that were not provided to students since the pandemic.)

"We continue with blended learning pero in very specific places lamang. As much as possible, face-to-face na talaga [it should be face-to-face]," he added.

The Department of Education (DepEd) is pushing for 100% face-to-face classes later this year. Under its Order No. 34, all public and private schools should have transitioned to five days in-person classes per week starting November.

However, several issues, such as the availability of classrooms and teachers, among others, are posing challenges to its implementation.

According to the Palace statement, government officials discussed during Tuesday's meeting whether the DepEd should stop blended learning beyond October 31.

During the meeting, Marcos raised concerns on internet connectivity, the increasing number of COVID-19 cases in the country, and other issues that might affect the conduct of face-to-face classes.

If major concerns on face-to face classes are not addressed, Marcos said  the government will be forced to continue holding blended learning classes.

Duterte, for her part, told Marcos that DepEd will prepare a plan on what to do beyond October 31.

In a separate statement, Duterte said the plan would be reviewed by Marcos, noting that the requirement of the five-day in-person classes by November 2 is still in effect.

"The President agreed that a  plan should be made with a caveat that face-to-face classes shall be the priority and blended modality shall be considered only in specific schools and areas with special circumstances," Duterte said.

"DepEd will prepare a plan to be reviewed by the President. No details are forthcoming anytime soon," she added.

A recent Pulse Asia survey commissioned by Senator Sherwin Gatchalian, which Duterte cited during the meeting, showed that around 94% of adult Filipinos agree that children must be allowed to attend face-to-face classes.

Meanwhile, also during the meeting, Marcos ordered concerned government agencies to rebuild and repair school buildings destroyed by Typhoon Odette in 2021. —with Anna Felicia Bajo/KBK, GMA News