Provinces to DepEd: Defer August 24 school opening

MANILA, Philippines — The League of Provinces of the Philippines (LPP) yesterday urged the Department of Education (DepEd) to defer the opening of classes as it expressed doubts on the government’s readiness to implement distance learning strategies.

LPP president and Marinduque Gov. Presbitero Velasco Jr. said DepEd should postpone the start of the school year set on Aug. 24 to either October or November.

Velasco said that instead of opening classes in August, DepEd should conduct a dry run for the distance learning scheme, especially in far-flung areas where internet connection is limited.

Velasco cited his home province of Marinduque, which he said has unstable internet connection. He said not all students have or can afford to buy computers, laptops or tablets that they will use for distance learning.

“Face-to-face interaction between teachers and students is still the best option,” he said as he expressed belief this could be achieved in the latter part of the year when the government obtains a clearer picture on how to deal with the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic.

The situation by August is still unsteady, given the rainy season and the arrival of more overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) required to undergo quarantine protocols, he said.

“We can try it by November or December. By that time, the fight against COVID-19 can be clearer,” he said.

Velasco said the school calendar could be adjusted until summer next year so students can catch up with their studies.

Still prohibited

Graduation rites and other end of school year activities that require physical interaction remain suspended even in areas without confirmed cases of COVID-19, DepEd said.

The agency is investigating the holding of a moving up ceremony in a school in Daet, Camarines Norte, where students shared a single mask.

“We take this matter seriously and will have a firm and rectifying action to prevent further breach in the future,” DepEd said in a statement, adding that the probe will be handled by the division investigative committee of DepEd-Bicol.

“We have also asked the person involved in the breach to submit a written explanation while the local DepEd COVID-19 task force will monitor the health of the learners concerned through the regional office,” it added.

DepEd said it has coordinated with the barangay health response and emergency team and the local government unit involved for the implementation of precautionary measures in response to the incident.

“We would like to reiterate that graduation and moving up rites that require face-to-face interaction are postponed until further notice. Schools and community learning centers are encouraged to conduct virtual rites and other alternative non face-to-face activities to celebrate the end of the school year,” said the agency.

“For schools that have yet to conduct the end of school year rites, school heads must submit to the school division superintendent for approval of their proposed process for e-graduation rites, including logistics before conducting the event,” it added.

Low-risk areas

For Davao del Norte Rep. Pantaleon Alvarez, Deped should consider conducting face-to-face classes in areas with low COVID risk and have limited digital capacity.

“While we should support these steps taken by DepEd to minimize the spread of COVID-19, we must also remember that there is an imminent danger to Filipino students’ education and future. The online and broadcast materials proposed by DepEd may be helpful, but these are not easily available for many teachers, students and families,” Alvarez said.

He said not everyone has the means to purchase a laptop, tablet and other gadgets in the same way that not everyone has access to or can afford to have internet connection.

Alvarez said some families do not even have radios or televisions at home, adding that a multi-pronged approach to the educational needs of the Filipinos should be adopted as it is necessary for a more responsive and effective government action. ?He said areas with no COVID-19 cases and those that have no access to digital system should consider holding regular classes. ?

Ready

Almost all state universities and colleges (SUCs) are ready to conduct online classes on Aug. 24, the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) said yesterday.

At a virtual meeting of the House defeat COVID-19 committee, CHED Commissioner Perfecto Alibin said that 102 of 111 SUCs have internet connectivity.

“There are 102 with internet connectivity and only two without connection. But this connectivity is not that strong for them to deliver the required flexible learning systems that we envision to implement this school year,” Alibin told lawmakers.

Alibin identified the campuses without internet connectivity as the University of Eastern Philippines and Batanes State College. Seven other SUCs have yet to provide data.

CHED has been proposing a flexible mode of learning, which means students will be doing combined online, offline, home and non-home school work, depending on the internet connectivity of students, teachers and the higher education institution.

Meanwhile, local government units have been advised to comply with the minimum technical requirements set by DepEd in the procurement of gadgets for the online learning system.

Interior Secretary Eduardo Año urged LGUS to comply with the specifications for the acquisition of gadgets that they would donate to public school teachers and students.

Interior Secretary Eduardo Año said donors or benefactors should indicate whether their provision of gadgets are by way of donation or gratuitous loan. Delon Porcalla, Edith Regalado, Edu Punay, Romina Cabrera