MANILA – Television and radio could be used as learning resources for students under the so-called “new normal” environment in the wake of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) crisis.
Sen. Sherwin Gatchalian, who chairs the Senate Committee on Education, made the proposal, citing that not all students have access to new forms of technology like the Internet.
As contained in his Senate resolution 391, Gatchalian said the health and safety of the students, as well as that of their parents and teachers should be prioritized.
“Itong inihain nating resolusyon ay para tignan natin nang mas malalim kung ano ang mga bagong patakaran at polisiya para mapangalagaan ang kalusugan at mag-ingat ang ating mga mag-aaral, magulang at guro sa darating na pasukan,” Gatchalian said in an interview with DZBB.
“Titignan rin natin ‘yung paggamit ng mga teknolohiya… Gusto rin nating gamitin ‘yung mga tradisyonal na teknolohiya tulad ng telebisyon at radio dahil ito ay mas malawak,” he added.
The Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of the Emerging Infectious Disease has earlier approved the proposal to start the new school year for public schools on late August.
Private schools, meanwhile, could start as early as June but just via online learning with the face-to-face learning still starting on August 24.
Gatchalian said that with the expected limited time of school year (from August 2020 to April 2021) the subjects to be taught in the school could be lessened as well.
“Kasabay nitong one or two times a week na pagpasok ay ang paggamit ng radyo at telebisyon sa pagtuturo. Bawasan na muna natin ‘yung subjects na tinuturo. For example, tanggalin na muna ‘yung P.E. (Physical Education), tanggalin na muna ‘yung Home Economics. Ituro natin ‘yung pinakamahalaga — Math, Science, English at Reading,” he said.
Gatchalian is also hoping that a vaccine against COVID-19 would be discovered by August 24 to finally put an end to the disease.
“Sana ay tuluy-tuloy na itong paghupa at tuluy-tuloy nang mawala itong virus na ito. Sana rin by that time, meron na ring gamot na makikita – ‘yung vaccine o gamot na makikita para masugpo itong coronavirus,” he said./PN
