MANILA – The Department of Education (DepEd) has complied with President Rodrigo Duterte’s directive to postpone face-to-face classes until a vaccine for coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) becomes available.
DepEd secretary Leonor Briones said they are ready to resort to alternative ways such as online and blended learning with face-to-face learning close to impossible.
“Hindi pa pwedeng ang face-to-face learning so blended approach muna. Mukhang masarap, mukhang epektibo at mag-eenjoy ang mga bata,” Briones said during a press briefing on Monday.
She added the delivery of lessons will be done through the use of the Learning Resources portal and DepEd Commons, TV, radio, and learning modules and packets both in print and digital format.
“Indeed, it is a challenging task for us at DepEd to prepare our schools in a different set-up but we are committed to our duty to make education available and thriving, even in most difficult time,” Briones said.
“Learning must continue. Nagagawa natin ito kung ‘nung may sigalot sa Marawi, may bagyo. The children and their education cannot wait,” she added.
Based on DepEd’s numbers, there are already around 6.4 million students around the country who have enrolled for the upcoming school year since the enrollment period started last June 1.
“This has exceeded our expectations,” Briones said. “Also almost 700, 000 of our teachers have prepared for the possible online learning as they responded that they have computer on their homes.”
President Duterte earlier said he will not allow face-to-face classes unless a vaccine for COVID-19 has been developed.
Briones previously said that school year 2020-2021 will start on August 24, and expected to end in April 2021 regardless if it will be face-to-face, online or blended./PN
