DepEd to conduct dry run for distance learning on Aug. 10

As schools are preparing for the sudden shift to new modes of teaching because of the prevailing coronavirus pandemic, the Department of Education (DepEd) said on Monday that it will conduct a dry run on the implementation of distance learning on August 10.

Photo credit: metronewscentral.net

The dry run aims to show how distance learning would work in an urban, rural and island settings said Education Undersecretary Jesus Mateo.

In a phone interview Mateo said, 

Ang ipapakita natin dito ay kung ano-ano 'yong iba-ibang mga modality,

[What we will show here are the different modalities.]

A "rural, mountainous school" from the Davao Region and an "island school" in Caraga, for instance, will demonstrate how they will deliver lessons to their students at home, Mateo said.

And according to the undersecretary, the dry run will also feature a school with a multi-grade setting, a school for indigenous people, and a special education school.

The DepEd has given regional and school division offices, and schools wide latitude to implement a distance learning modality that best suits the needs of their students. The dry run would also allow DepEd's field units and schools to see if the implementation of their distance learning plans still needed improvements.

Mateo said, 

Kaya nagda-dry run tayo para kung saka-sakali na mayroon pang kailangan i-fine-tune, ifa-fine-tune natin,

 [The reason why we're holding a dry run is to fine-tune what needs to be fine-tuned.]

The dry run will be streamed on the DepEd's social media page, and shown on PTV-4 and IBC-13.

On the other hand, Vice President Leni Robredo on Sunday said that she has accepted the invitation extended by Malacañang to witness the dry run of the Department of Education’s (DepEd) blended learning, or combination of online and face-to-face classes.

Under the DepEd's distance learning plan, lessons will be delivered to students via printed and digital modules, online classes, television, and radio.

Classes in public schools are scheduled to start on Aug. 24.