DepEd says some sudents may have to share modules due to lack of funding on its production

Department of Education (DepEd) said that due to lack of funding for the production of the self-learning modules (SLMs), some students will have to share the modules.

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Education Undersecretary Diosdado San Antonio said, during the hearing of the House Committee on Appropriations on the proposed 2021 budget of DepEd, the self-learning modules in some subjects would be used “on rotation basis.” For safety concerns, they would have the modules be disinfected before passing on to the next sets of students.

Alliance for Concern Teachers Partylist Rep. France Castro questioned why the module-to-student ratio could not be at 1:1.

That is allowed. At most, four [students] but what we are saying is that two learners can use it, 

San Antonio replied.

Agusan del Norte 1st District Rep. Lawrence Fortun raised his concerns on how will teachers supposed to proceed with instruction when modules are inaccessible. He also added that some teachers were trying their best to search and solicit help from kind individuals just to produce the modules needed by their students.

DepEd Undersecretary Annalyn Sevilla said that for the 1:1 module-to-student ratio be followed about P35 billion would be needed.

However, the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) only allotted P15 billion for the production of the modules under the 2021 national budget on top of P5 billion from the unprogrammed funds.

We are readjusting our plan so that we can have a production of the self-learning materials with this amount which was given to us,

said Sevilla.

With that, Fortun asked where DepEd was planning to source the funds to compensate for the deficiency in the budget provided by the national government.

Aside from the national government fund which is in the GAA [General Appropriations Act], we have our special education fund [SEF] from the local government units and we also have the Brigada Eskwela as well, 

Sevilla said.

“This may be a good opportunity to explain why some of our teachers and school heads are soliciting for some materials for the learning resources,” 

she added.

However, Sevilla emphasized that Brigada Eskwela was voluntary and that it should have the transparency and accountability as embedded in the program’s policy.

Fortun said the uncertainty of the source of funds was “worrisome,” especially as classes would begin on Oct. 5.

If one of the sources would be Brigada Eskwela and SEF from the local government, we know that the certainty is vague [malabo],

 Fortun said, pointing out that not all local government units were financially-capable.

DepEd is really trying very hard to make sure that the succeeding quarters will really have fewer printed learning modules, considering that there are also local governments that have distributed gadgets,

according to San Antonio.

He acknowledged that a lot of people had doubts about sharing of modules.

If the concern is the possibility of using the modules as the instrument for the virus to be also be transferred to other learners, we are very clear that if rotational use of modules will be resorted to by our field units, then we have to make sure that proper disinfection of the learning resources will be made, 

San Antonio said.

If we allow two learners to use modules, this will already reduce our financial requirements by half, 

he added.

DepEd sees textbooks could still be optimized even if the funds is not sufficient. it can be use as long the students will be provided with learning and activity sheets.