Earlier today, June 17, around 10 public school teachers in Davao de Oro were spotted installing several tents along the highway of upland areas in order to get signal to attend DepEd webinars. In the pictures, some teachers sat by a curbside holding their phones up while others set up the tents. They also had snacks and water bottles prepared though it is hardly a picnic in the park.

The Department of Education (DepEd), after finalizing with President Rodrigo Duterte that face-to-face classes are not allowed until there is a COVID-19 vaccine, decided that students and teachers will have to engage in online learning among other alternatives. In line with this, teachers had to join online training sessions by DepEd before classes resume.

Previously, many organizations have denounced the decision of DepEd to resume classes despite an ongoing pandemic. Ang Probinsyano partylist Representative Ronnie Ong expressed that virtual classes are not suitable for families without access to computers, tablets or phones and who cannot afford an internet connection.

A challenge for adults as well

According to a report by alternative media organization Bulatlat, DepEd’s proposed blended learning approach poses challenges to Filipino parents and teachers.

“Public school teacher [Roel] Mape said teaching purely via online is not possible. During the online enrollment alone, he said that only four of his 40 students were able to use the platform. Many teachers themselves do not have their own laptops and have no steady internet connection,” the report included.

DepEd Secretary Leonor Briones announced last June 15 that they will be using other alternative methods such as cellphones, televisions and radios for classes. They also plan to distribute printed learning modules to local government units. However, these gadgets have not yet been distributed to teachers in Davao de Oro, who are now preparing for classes.

President Duterte also said that the government will seek funding for transistor radios for the new educational system.

As of June 15, DepEd reported 10.6 million public school students have enrolled for school year 2020-2021.

Header photo courtesy of Mart Sambalud of Inquirer.net

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