The Department of Education (DepEd) disclosed that various sectors affected by the educational system are looking at an August opening of classes in both public elementary and high schools in light of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic.
Education Secretary Leonor Briones said that based on discussions with education stakeholders, “it’s clear that their preference is August.”
But we also need to consider the IATF (Inter-Agency Task Force on Emerging Infectious Diseases) recommendations,” she added.
Parents were also queried on their willingness to send children to school considering these scenarios — strict observance of social distancing, undertaking lessons using technology by online, television or radio and holding Saturday make up classes.
The midterms were already approaching when the enhanced community quarantine was implemented last month and customarily, the opening of classes in public elementary and high schools would have been the first Monday of June.
Briones encouraged continuous learning among the youth by visiting the https://commons.deped.gov.ph website, an online platform which holds online review and open educational materials developed by public school teachers.
Meanwhile, Commission on Higher Education (CHED) chairperson Prospero de Vera noted that the consensus among colleges and universities is “Titigil ang pag-hold ng regular residential, or face-to-face classes (We’ll stop the holding of regular residential or face-to-face classes).”
De Vera pointed out that “Yung mga natitirang linggo hanggang matapos ang semestre nila, kasi yung semestre dapat matatapos ngayong Mayo, ay gagawin nila para makapagsumite ng mga requirements, mga take home assignments, mga learning modules…para makapgcompute ng kanilang grades (The remaining weeks up to the end of their terms, which should have ended this May, will be devoted for submitting the students’ requirements, do take-home assignments, learning modules, so grades may be computed.)”
De Vera also mentioned that universities and colleges, which have “different requirements for different degree programs” have the “academic freedom” to decide on whether to implement a “mass promotion” or automatic passing marks for students to protect student welfare as each educational institution.
CHED is against mass promotion as there is no existing policy on this. (Jojo Mangahis)