DepEd: teachers to undergo training on distance learning

The Department of Education (DepEd) has issued DepEd Order No. 007, series of 2020, or its plans with regard to the upcoming School Year (SY) 2020-2021.

With classes having been disrupted in March due to the threat of coronavirus disease or COVID-19, teachers, students, and parents alike have resorted to various methods in order to ensure continuous learning.

The education bureau recently issued its school calendar and activities for SY 2020-2021, which has been approved by the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Disease (IATF). Classes are set to formally open on August 24, 2020 and close on April 30, 2021.

DepEd Secretary Leonor Briones made it clear that the opening of schools does not necessarily mean that students and teachers will be back in the classroom in a face-to-face setting. Even if this were the case, physical distancing will still be strictly observed.

“School opening will not necessarily mean traditional face-to-face learning in classroom,” said Briones. Schools will have to wait for the risk assessment of the Department of Health (DOH), the IATF, or the Office of the President before it can physically open.

Students may be enrolled from June 1 to June 30, 2020 via alternative channels such as an online survey form in order to collect information that will help educators plan appropriate learning methods. School activities such as fairs which require many students to gather have been cancelled by DepEd.

With just 203 days in the looming school year, DepEd has also authorized the use of distance learning methods or weekend classes to cope with the compressed academic calendar. Beginning June 1, teachers will be attending seminars and undergoing training in order to familiarize themselves with different activities, materials, and guidelines.

Briones called for the support of parents, guardians, communities, and the media as schools and teachers face extraordinary challenges in the upcoming school year.

“This is now the new world of learning; this is the new method of transmitting knowledge… More and more we need the support families, we need the support of communities, we need the support of all who advocate education, particularly the media in communicating the correct information to correct guidelines to the public.”