DepEd: Learning camp not mandatory

MANILA, Philippines — Students will not be required to take part in the National Learning Camp (NLC) program that the Department of Education (DepEd) will pilot with Grades 7 and 8 students starting this month.

In a department order released yesterday, Vice President and Education Secretary Sara Duterte said the NLC is a voluntary learning recovery program that will be offered every end of school year.

It will “complement the learning efforts in the previous school year and provide a firmer basis for further gains in the upcoming school year.”

Depending on their needs, students who volunteer for the program will be enrolled in one of three camps: enhancement, consolidation or intervention.

The enhancement camp is “designed to enrich learning for advanced learners by providing greater depth, breadth and complexity of learning area competencies.”

The consolidation camp, meanwhile, is “designed to provide further practice on and application of previously taught competencies.” Participants will be provided with opportunities to identify links connecting concepts and skills across grade-level competencies.

The intervention camp will support students who are yet to grasp foundational Mathematics and English skills. Students will receive targeted interventions to help improve their skills and bridge any gaps in their understanding.

The enhancement camp will be conducted for three weeks, while the intervention and consolidation camps will run for five weeks. Three days per week will be allocated for teacher-student engagement, while the remaining two days will be for collaborative sessions among teachers.

Based on the guidelines enclosed in the department order, the phased implementation of the NLC will begin this school break for Grades 7 and 8 in English, Science and Mathematics.

It will be expanded to other grade levels and learning areas in the succeeding school years, subject to issuance of separate guidelines.

The DepEd said the NLC shall have a maximum of 35 students per class. School heads, however, have the discretion to device interventions for flexibility of organizing classes based on the availability of teachers and classrooms.

The sessions are in line with what Duterte described as NLC’s “two-fold purpose” – improving learning performance and strengthening teacher capacity.

During the two-day sessions, teachers will take part in activities that “focus on planning and reviewing teaching, sharing effective teaching approaches and strategies, preparing teaching materials and discussing other teaching-related concerns.”

“The goal is to enhance the teaching and learning process and promote continuous professional development among educators,” added the DepEd, noting that the NLC shall enhance job-embedded learning opportunities for teachers.

“Job-embedded learning promotes reflective practice, collaboration with colleagues and the exploration of innovative teaching approaches. Through this immersive learning experience, teachers can address real-time challenges, refine their teaching methods and increase their efficacy in addressing the diverse needs of learners,” it added.

Teacher participation in the NLC is voluntary. The DepEd said school heads are responsible for identifying prospective teachers who will handle the specific camps.

“Preference shall be given to teachers who are willing, committed and highly proficient in their respective areas,” added the guidelines.

Those who will participate in the program will receive vacation service credits, a certificate of recognition and other incentives, subject to availability of funds.

Schools will be provided with sets of teacher-learning materials for the program.

“In addition to these materials, schools may utilize available supplementary learning resources that align with the targeted learning competencies and the most appropriate teaching approaches and strategies,” said the DepEd.

“Further, a Lesson Format and Design that aligns with the objectives of the NLC shall be provided. A strength of this lesson format and design is that teachers are afforded resources, time and practice involving learners to further extend their own skills, knowledge and understanding of teaching and learning,” it added.

Remedial

The DepEd clarified that schools are not precluded from conducting other activities during the school break, such as Reading and Mathematics programs for Grades 1 to 3 and other enrichment activities in other grade levels.

Remedial classes will continue to be conducted in other grade levels until the phased implementation of the NLC is completed.

“Based on the learner’s academic performance in the school year immediately preceding the end of school-year break, learners in need of greater academic support shall be highly encouraged to participate in remedial classes in order to prepare them to transition to the next grade level,” added the guidelines.

Like the NLC, remedial classes are also voluntary.