Pandemic opportunity to “re-imagine and transform education” —DepEd

The Department of Education (DepEd) has shared the lessons it has learned amid the continuing threat of the coronavirus or COVID-19 pandemic.

At the 11th ASEAN Education Ministers (ASED) Meeting on Thursday, November 18, which the education bureau is hosting, it took part in a virtual meeting along with representatives from the ASEAN Secretariat, the Commission on Higher Education (CHED), the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA), Southeast Asian Ministers of Education Organization Regional Center for Educational Innovation and Technology (SEAMO INNOTECH), and the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) to address concerns in line with its 2020 theme of “Transforming Education the ASEAN Way: Forging Partnerships in the Age of Global Disruptions.”

“We would like to see and use this as an opportunity to re-imagine and transform education,” said DepEd Undersecretary Planning Service and Field Operations Jesus L.R. Mateo during the online press conference. “This is the reason why we need to ensure continuing coordination.”

According to Mateo, the ASEAN comprehensive recovery framework is being developed to help respond to the crisis. The objective of the said framework will be a “consolidated exit strategy” from the COVID-19 pandemic, through different stages of recovery.

Some of the steps being undertaken is coming up with a learning continuity plan as well as guidelines on the safe reopening of face-to-face classes in schools while observing health protocols and taking care of the mental health needs of educators and students.

Said ASEAN Secretariat Deputy Secretary-General Kung Phoak, “It will be a long shot for us to recover because of the unprecedented impact but we need to prepare our students to be able to thrive, adapt and cope well from this shock.”