THE Department of Education (Deped) Davao said it will only allow a maximum of 15 to 20 learners in a single class with fewer hours and days of exposure for those who cannot access online learning as a measure to prevent contagion of coronavirus disease (Covid-19) inside schools.
In a virtual presser Wednesday, May 20, DepEd-Davao spokesperson Jenielito Atillo said July will be a critical month for the department because aside from the start of enrolment, DepEd will also conduct training to their teachers on how to conduct virtual classes.
The formal school opening of the school year 2020-2021 has been scheduled on August 24 for both public and private schools, but Atillo said the mode of learning will depend on the local Covid-19 Risk Severity Classification and compliance with minimum health standards on the areas where the schools are located.
While they recommended online classes, Atillo acknowledged that there are some areas, especially those in remote areas, where access to the internet is not possible. Thus, face-to-face learning will still be applied provided that they will adhere to health safety standards.
In a normal classroom setting in public schools, the number of students could go as high as 60 learners.
Atillo said they will implement blended learning where students can have face-to-face discussion or modular to cater to all the learners without compromising the social distancing measures.
"Gusto lang nako i-emphasize pag face-to-face dili pod the whole week they will be spending their days in the school. We have limited already the number of hours maximum three hours (per class), dili pa jud na muabot ug three hours and then mga usa or duha rapod na kaadlaw (it may not even reach three hours with just one to two days physical class) because majority of the time will be utilized in the homes," Atillo said.
During the face-to-face meeting, the students will be given learning kits that will be done in their respective homes. The activity will be submitted to the teachers in the next meeting.
"Because we will limit the number of children from 15 to 20 and then kabalo naman ka sa situation sa [we all know that in] public schools, that you go as high as 60, ang mahitabo ana is [what will happen is] that two ways. Number one we are implementing other means katong online and the other modalities pa," he said.
They will also implement another scheme to cater to the students through scheduling. For instance, there will be students who will be allowed to attend face-to-face class on certain days of the week to prevent overcrowding.
Amid clamor to move the opening of the school year to 2021, Atillo said that they cannot do that because they do not want to compromise the learning of the students in the wake of a pandemic.
"We simply cannot do that for the reason that education has to move forward in spite and despite whatever the circumstances there are. Kay ang education sa mata sa Department of Education is actually the last bastion of hope for everybody," he said.
Meanwhile, Atillo also underscored the need for private schools to submit their Basic Education-Learning Continuity Plan (BE-LCP) before they will be given the go signal to operate.
The BE-LCP contains the school's programs and strategies in delivering classes in preparation for the new normal as well as the safety protocols.