DepEd encourages schools, learners to utilize other learning modalities

The Department of Education (DepEd) is currently implementing different learning modalities due to the effects of Covid-19 pandemic. The department offered modular (printed or digitized), online learning, radio and television-based instruction or a combination of these (blended learning). 

Of all the options for learning delivery, DepEd said that printed modular was the most preferred choice of students and parents. However, Education Secretary Leonor Briones hopes schools will eventually reduce dependence on modular learning citing its expensive cost and negative impact to the environment. 

With the recent calamities that the country experienced, one of the most affected is the education sector. Many modules where washed out and destroyed forcing the department to muster funds for reproduction of modules. 

With these reasons, the department urged students and teachers, as well as parents and school heads, to utilize other learning delivery modalities. Particularly, in areas that were battered by the recent typhoons. 

During their site visit in the affected schools in Bicol, Undersecretary for Administration Alain del Pascua and Undersecretary for Field Operations Revsee Escobedo stressed that distance learning is “not limited to modular learning” as DepEd’s Learning Continuity Plan (LCP) offers more modalities. 

Sa ating mga teacher, sa ating mga principal at sa ating mga estudyante, huwag lang module ang ating tignan,

Pascua said. 

Nandiyan ang radyo, TV, Internet, at cellphone, gamitin po natin lahat para tayo ay matuto at gamitin natin lahat sa pagtuturo,

Pascua added. 

DepEd praised how the schools in the Bicol region capitalize on the advantages of radio-based instruction (RBI) after typhoon battered the region. 

Also, the Jesalva Delgado Memorial Elementary School (JDMES) in Sorsogon City is currently utilizing the RBI called Radyo Eskwela for the learners. DepEd said that this is more convenient, especially in times of calamities where self-learning modules have been damaged. 

Furthermore, some schools are utilizing FM radio frequency to provide learning materials to learners. It gave access to learners and schools in their learning activities, health education, mental, and psychosocial support programs. 

DepEd adds that there is a great challenge ahead of the new normal and that there’s a lot to adjust and to embrace. However, DepEd ensures that these modalities in learning can continually deliver quality education to learners.