DepEd to parents: ‘no need to buy gadgets; we will provide printed materials’
Published May 29, 2020, 3:00 PM
The Department of Education (DepEd) assured parents that printed modules or learning materials will be provided for their children as the schools prepare of the opening of the school year (SY) 2020-2021 in August.
DepEd made this assurance to address the concerns of parents who might be forced to buy new gadgets or devices such as laptops, tablets, and smart phones just to ensure that their children will be able to participate in the new modes of learning delivery to be implemented by schools when classes start on August 24.
“Even if there’s no gadget or Internet, we are preparing printed learning modules for the learners and we will find ways so these can be delivered to their respective homes,” DepEd Undersecretary and Spokesperson Atty. Nepomuceno Malaluan said in Filipino during a recent televised press briefing.
Due to the COVID-19 crisis, DepEd will be implementing various alternative learning modalities for the School Year (SY) 2020-2021 as cited in its Learning Continuity Plan (LCP).
DepEd said that there will be no face-to-face classes until the safety of learners are assured. However, DepEd will still provide learning opportunities to students without necessarily requiring them to go back to school. These include blended learning which consists of various approaches that are adjusted to the actual situation of the communities.
DepEd said that there will be printed materials which shall be distributed to the homes of students. Printed modules, DepEd explained, refer to competency-specific materials that cover the key elements of a lesson, from motivation, instruction, to assessment. For this SY, printed modules will be prepared for learners who have limited access or have absolutely no access to internet and digital devices.
For the students to use the printed modules, DepEd said that the teachers can distribute modules at the start of the month and the parents will guide learners as they read through the module. “They can also consult with teachers via SMS,” DepEd explained. “During the week, parents will take note of which strategies worked and what support they still need for modular learning,” DepEd added.
Other blended and distance Learning Modalities to be offered by DepEd include online learning platforms, such as DepEd Commons, which is accessible to learners, teachers, and parents with internet connectivity; and TV and radio-based instruction which shall reach areas where connectivity and printed materials may not be available immediately.
