Health protocols, distribution system in place in Bohol on first day of blended learning

TAGBILARAN CITY - Antonia Magdua, 62, had to observe health protocols before she entered Dr. Cecilio Putong National High School (DCPNHS) on Monday for the distribution of self-learning modules amid the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic.

She donned a face mask and a  face shield before being allowed entry to the school where she had to fall in line. Guards at the gate had to check her body temperature and told to wash her hands with alcohol.

Magdua had to get the printed modules for her Grade 7 grandson.

She said she likes the system implemented by the school.

"Pagkuha nako sa module okay raman. Hapsay man ilang sistema sa Putong kay naa may mutug-an mga sekyu ug mga maestra uban tug-anan man ta asa ta padung (When I get the module, everything is alright. The system in Putong is smooth because there are security guards and teachers and they will tell us where we are going, "said Magdua.

The school is implementing the modular distance learning using printed modules.

Parents and guardians would claim the printed modules on a specific days - Monday for Grade 7 and Grade 12,  Tuesday for Grade 8, Wednesday for Grade 9, Thursday for Grade 10, and Friday for Grade 11.

Parents are expected return the modules after one week and claim the second set of modules.

Jeycelle Espejo-Inting, Grade 7 teacher, said the module distribution went well.

"So far so good because the parents have claimed the modules and everything's doing well. There is no problem so far in module distribution," said Inting who has 45 students.

There is also a plastic barrier as precautionary measures.

" As you can see we have there a plasic barrier on the door and we are mantaining social distancing with the parents. We have done everything to protect ourselves," said Inting.

Usually on the first day of school, Inting has to watch as wide-eyed, self-conscious freshmen transition into high school. She normally runs the class through a few exercises to get everyone acclimated, comfortable with one another and feeling supported in the unfamiliar environment, she said.

“Now, it seems new for all of us,” she said.

DCPNHS has 7, 450 students, the biggest student population in Bohol province.

Assistant school principal Melchor Daniel Jr. said the enrolment is significantly higher compared to last year which was only a little over 6, 000 students.

Daniel said the school had printed all the modules needed for this month.

"So far, we have been able to print all the modules for the first four weeks. And as the modules are coming in from the Central Office, we are printing them non-stop so that by the time they are needed we can give them out  to the learners. So far today, we have sufficient modules and I think all our learners will be able to get their sufficient copies at least in the next two or three weeks," he said.

Maurine Castaño, principal of  DCPNHS, said giving out the hard copy is a stable modality considering that most of their students are from low-income families and from other towns.

She said parents don't have to pay for the printed modules.

"Kakugi nalang sa parents to get the printed copy and to return it,"  said Castaño.

Daniel said it is a big adjustment for parents and learners since everything is new.

"Everything is different, everthing is new. So I am sure that our parents as well as our learners will be overwhelmed with the new workload that they have to do when they get home.  The modules from Central Office are quiet challenging in a sense that many of them are thick. Our students-learners will have their hands full at home. And the parents unfortunately will have to take active roles in these activities when our learner answer the modules at home.  Our learners need all the support from their family because this is adjustment period. There will be major adjustment because everything is entirely new, " he said.

Daniel said since their modality is modular there is no problem for classrooms.

"But if in case in the future if face to face is allowed that will be our biggest challenge. How can we accommodate this big number  of students that we have in our enrolment this school year," a worried Daniel said. -- BAP, GMA News