Teachers, students to receive psychosocial counselling during first week of classes

As students and teachers prepare to adapt to a “new normal” of alternative learning methods, the Department of Education (DepEd) will be dedicating the first week of classes to psychosocial counselling.

In a joint virtual meeting of the House committee on basic education and culture, along with the committee on higher and technical education, DepEd Secretary Leonor Briones noted how psychosocial counselling will be incorporated into its learning continuity plan, while coronavirus disease or COVID-19 remains a threat.

“Our children have to be prepared for the new kind of learning approaches that we are adapting, including the teachers,” said Briones. “For example, absolute isolation, the fear of not knowing whether you will get it or not, of exposing your child and sending your child to school, [these] might be dangerous.”

Briones also noted how the COVID-19 pandemic may have triggered psychosocial issues that does not receive as much attention such as the health and the economic sectors.

On May 11, the Department of Education (DepEd) 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 pandemic, teachers, learners, and parents have needed to use various methods to ensure continuous learning.

With a mere 203 days in the upcoming school year, DepEd has 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 newworld 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.”