Last minute distribution of self-learning modules by DepEd

The Department of Education (DepEd) is still distributing self-learning modules (SLM) to its learners after parents did not pick it up on the school.

Photo credit: businessmirror.com

Kung mayroon pa pong paghahanda na nangyayari ay iyan iyong last-minute distribution ng ating self-learning modules... talagang kumikilos na ang kagawaran kasama ang ating partners sa pamahalaang lokal para masiguro na makarating ang self-learning modules na ito,

Education Undersecretary Tonisito Umali said in a briefing.

[If there is still preparation going on, that is the last-minute distribution of our self-learning modules...the department is really working with our partners in the local government to ensure that these self-learning modules arrive.]

Parents or guardians are supposed to get the learning materials for their children and return the activity sheets in their respective schools every one or two weeks. DepEd earlier announced that some public school students would have to share the modules as the budget for the provision of modules were cut under the proposed 2021 national budget.

The Alliance of Concerned Teachers (ACT) insists the government should increase the budget of the department to provide all learners with their own modules.

Dapat magkaroon ng sapat na allocation sa education natin para magkaroon ng sapat na bilang ng modules,

Alliance of Concerned Teachers (ACT) Secretary-General Raymond Basilio said in a briefing.

[There must be a sufficient allocation in our education sector to have a sufficient number of modules,]

The teachers' group said that some teachers in Cebu are struggling to make a copy of the self-learning modules because they don't have enough materials to use. 

The department also announced earlier that about 80% of the modules have been distributed to learners as of the third week of September. DepEd's field units have been working with local government units and barangay officials in the distribution of the modules.

As of October 1, 2020, the total number of enrollees for SY 2020-2021 has reached 24,720,714 nationwide (89.01% of SY 2019-2020) for Kindergarten to Grade 12, including ALS and non-graded learners with disabilities.

The data showed that 22,500,863 learners have enrolled in public schools (99.68% of SY 2019), 2,165,196 in private schools (50.30% of SY 2019), and 394,274 in the Alternative Learning System (53.28% of SY 2019).