Blended learning should be temporary, says ACT-Philippines

A group of education workers criticized the directive of President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. to continue the implementation of blended learning in specific areas, stressing it should be a temporary setup.

ACT Philippines said the government must have an “effective and comprehensive plan" in implementing the scheme, including a program for transition into full in-person learning.

“The blended learning set up should also be clear as temporary because it has been proven that for the last two years this type of distance learning modalities is not effective especially for young learners,” Vladimer Quetua, the group's chairperson said.

ACT said the government's move to pursue blended learning was an admission of the country’s “dire state of educational system.”

“It highlights the failure to address classroom and teacher shortages for the longest time would not even allow us to bring all our students back to school without compromising their health and safety, especially in urban areas, despite the urgent need for face-to-face instructions,” it said.

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

The President said he prefers in-person classes, but admitted that issues on internet connectivity, the increasing number of COVID-19 cases in the country, and availability of classrooms and teachers might affect the conduct of physical learning.

The Department of Education (DepEd) is pushing for 100 percent 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.

SONA

Meanwhile, Queta said the group expects Marcos to lay down his plans to address the shortage of classrooms and teachers in the country during his first State of the Nation Address (SONA).

“We also want to see if President Marcos would prioritize these concerns in his first 100 days,” he noted.

Likewise, Queta said that Marcos should focus on the following before the reopening of schools:

• double school maintenance and its operating budget;
• employ additional teachers to be able to implement the ideal 35 maximum student class size;
• employ more nurses and utility personnel for every school;
• ensure the health protection and benefits of teachers and school employees;
• aid for struggling families in the midst of the economic crisis and;
• conduct a learning assessment of students all over the country to be used as a gauge for the adjustments needed for the curriculum in the education recovery program. 

—LDF, GMA News