Ella Montalban | Posted on May 27, 2020 at 3:40 p.m.
The Department of Education in Central Visayas (DepEd-7) will continue to push through with its preparations for the opening of classes.
According to DepEd-7 Regional Director Salustiano Jimenez, since there’s no written order from DepEd Secretary Leonor Briones not to hold classes, they will continue their preparations come June 1.
Jimenez said the opening of classes is set on Aug. 24, 2020.
In a virtual briefing on Wednesday morning, Jimenez emphasized that private schools may open earlier than that but taking into consideration that there will be “no face to face” interaction before Aug. 24.
“All online pa,” he said.
He added that private schools may implement the Online Distance Learning.
Prior to implementation, they are asked to submit their Learning Continuity Plan, School Plans in compliance to the minimum health standards and School Calendar.
As for their Most Essential Learning Competencies, Jimenez said schools may request a copy of this thru their DepEd-7 website’s helpdesk.
Submission of scanned documents can be done online, he added.
The pushing thru of plans to hold classes in August contradicts the pronouncement of President Rodrigo Duterte that he is against it until there’s already a vaccine available.
However on Wednesday, Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque said the resumption of formal classes on Aug. 24 would depend on whether the country has reached a “new normal” when all community quarantines have been lifted and there is a lower Covid-19 infection rate.
“What is certain is by August 24, formal learning will resume. Possibly not face-to-face (F2F), but definitely blended. We will never expose our children to any form of danger,” Roque said in an interview over ABS-CBN News Channel (ANC).
BLENDED LEARNING
Jimenez in his briefing this morning discussed about the directions that DepEd-7 would be taking for the new normal including blended learning.
Blended Learning is an approach that uses electronic and online education materials combined with the face-to-face teaching.
Recently, DepEd also launched its DepEd Commons, a website that offers a library of materials for both students and teachers that is free of charge to those who want to access it.
