Faculty training for online education to start

MANILA, Philippines — The De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde will hold a five-day training program next week to prepare college educators to adjust to an online learning environment for the upcoming school year.

Benilde vice chancellor for academics Geronio Ulayao said the free training program would benefit around 480 faculty members from 120 higher education institutions across the country.

The training, which will be held online from Aug. 3 to 7, is part of the HiEd Bayanihan initiative of the Commission on Higher Education (CHED).

“Based on the need that was expressed to us by CHED, we are prioritizing schools that have no capabilities for institution-wide implementation of a learning management program,” Ulayao told “The Chiefs” on One News/TV 5 on Thursday.

“We will provide tips on how to jumpstart online classes with available tools right now,” he added.

CHED earlier partnered with six higher education institutions to train faculty members in other colleges ahead of the opening of classes using flexible learning this August.

“The HiEd Bayanihan is a virtual and free cooperative learning environment for educational fora, training, capacity building and resource sharing among Philippine higher education institutions,” said CHED chairperson J. Prospero de Vera III.

In addition to Benilde, other partner institutions that would conduct training programs for college faculty include the Manuel S. Enverga University Foundation, Philippine Normal University, Tarlac Agricultural University, Central Luzon State University and Far Eastern University.

Screening, testing for teachers

Teacher organizations have called on the Department of Education (DepEd) to conduct mandatory health screening and testing for those who will be required to physically report for work ahead of opening of classes this August.

Alliance of Concerned Teachers (ACT) also urged DepEd to release timely and accurate report on COVID-19 cases among its personnel without compromising their rights to privacy.

The group said it has received reports of infected teachers in Metro Manila, Bicol and Central Visayas.

“We have the right to know the extent of infection within our ranks and to demand accountability where it is due,” said ACT secretary general Raymond Basilio.

“Decisive steps to prevent further spread and respond to the imminent threat of infection among teachers and staff are long overdue… It’s high time that we be given due protection and assistance against the raging pandemic,” he added.

ACT said DepEd must implement various health measures to protect education workers, including health screening and free testing prior to physical reporting; fully subsidized treatment for COVID-19 positive employees and provision of sick leave benefits to teachers.

In a separate statement, the Teachers’ Dignity Coalition (TDC) called on DepEd to take the pandemic seriously by exerting effort to minimize the exposure of teachers.

The group said one of its officials in Metro Manila had tested positive for the virus.

It reiterated its call to DepEd to prohibit physical reporting to schools for tasks that are not essential and can be done remotely and take administrative action against field officials for disregarding rules from the central office.

The DepEd earlier clarified that work-from-home arrangement is highly encouraged for teaching and non-teaching personnel even in low-risk areas.

Imee calls for school fees probe

The growing number of complaints from concerned parents and students enrolling in Metro Manila’s top universities over educational expenses that should no longer be applicable must be probed by the Senate, Sen. Imee Marcos said yesterday.

Marcos explained that learning from home through online classes and modular lessons should be less costly than the face-to-face education before the coronavirus pandemic.

“The inclusion of many miscellaneous fees for school facilities and services that would no longer be used is unnecessary and unconscionable,” Marcos said.

“A Senate investigation is in order, if the Commission on Higher Education cannot settle this controversy before classes resume in late August,” she said in filing Senate Resolution 480 to conduct the inquiry.

Meanwhile, telecommunications company Globe has partnered with DepEd for the conduct of a webinar on cyber security and wellness.

The webinar, called Global Filipino Teacher Series: Digital Thumbprint Program (DTP), will be held on Aug. 4 to 5 and would be open to all teaching and non-teaching staff of DepEd.

“Globe continues to support DepEd’s thrust of delivering quality education and training to learners and educators and is one with the government in helping keep the online community safe for everyone, especially the children,” said Yoly Crisanto, Globe’s chief sustainability officer and senior vice president for corporate communications.

DTP is a series of workshops on digital citizenship, online safety and the responsible use of the internet.— Paolo Romero, Christina Mendez