Marcos pushes for limited blended learning for coming school year
MANILA, Philippines (Updated 6:41 p.m.) — Ahead of students' return to face-to-face classes, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Tuesday asserted that blended learning can still be done in some areas given the litany of issues that might arise.
At a Cabinet meeting, Marcos was quoted as saying that the national government would be forced to continue carrying out blended learning if key concerns in the education sector, such as the supply of teachers and stable internet, are not addressed.
In a statement sent to reporters, Press Secretary Trixie Cruz-Angeles said that the issue of whether DepEd should do away with blended learning beyond October was raised during the meeting, considering the challenges that the department is facing.
“All we have to do [is] identify the areas of blended learning so that we can focus. Prepare the devices and things they need that were not supplied to children during the pandemic,” Marcos said in mixed Filipino and English.
Marcos instructed Vice President Sara Duterte, also education chief, to come up with the necessary preparations and planning for the opening of face-to-face classes and address the availability of classrooms and teachers.
DepEd Order 32 s. 2022 bans any form of “purely distance learning” and blended learning in any school beyond October 31, with the department adopting in its place a policy pushing for the full implementation of the five-day in-person classes.
Duterte told the president that DepEd will prepare a plan on what to do beyond October 31, pointing to a recent survey that suggests the majority of students and parents favor in-person classes after nearly two years of blended learning.
Other issues mentioned by the president include internet connectivity and the surge in COVID-19 cases which he said could affect the implementation of in-person learning.
The chief executive also directed concerned agencies to rebuild and repair school buildings destroyed by Typhoon Odette last year.
“We continue with blended learning but only in very specific places. As much as possible, classes should really be face-to-face,” Marcos also said.
VP Duterte: 5-day face-to-face classes still the rule
In a separate statement issued later Wednesday afternoon, Duterte reiterated that while the "possibility of the institutionalization of a blended learning mode of instruction" was raised at the Cabinet meeting, her department's focus on face-to-face classes would still remain top priority.
"The President agreed that a plan tshould be made with a caveat that face-to-face classes shall be the priority and blended modality shall be considered only in specific schools and areas with special circumstances," she said.
Duterte did not mention which schools and areas are being considered for the setup. The DepEd's memo also did not outline any details for the areas with special circumstances earlier mentioned.
"DepEd will prepare a plan to be reviewed by the president. No details are forthcoming anytime soon...the requirement of the 5-day in-person classes by November 2, 2022, is still in effect," she said.
READ: DOTr vows sufficient transport for students by looking at 'compliance,' free rides
Transport and commuter groups have also raised concern over the lack of transport supply on the roads to support the demands of students.
In an earlier interview aired over ABS-CBN News Channel, Alliance of Concerned Teachers secretary-general Raymond Basilio said that educators were largely disappointed with the term of former education secretary Leonor Briones.
He also pointed out that many students up to Grade 3 will be going back to on-site classes not knowing how to read and write.
"We are the only country in the world that is yet to open our schools back again, so that is something that we should be thinking of. Why has she allowed our schools to be closed for almost two years?" he said.
— with a report from Kristine Joy Patag
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