DEPARTMENT of Education (DepEd) officials in Eastern Visayas have expressed readiness for the new normal classes on October 5 amid the coronavirus disease (Covid-19) pandemic.
“DepEd should be the last one to surrender. We emphasize not to delay the education of the students,” said Dr. Ramir Uytico, DepEd regional director.
In a virtual press briefing, Uytico said they expect understanding from the parents on why the department is not holding back in opening the classes for the 1,177,911 enrolled students in the region despite the uncertainties.
“We want to serve the country and the children. We want to help our children achieve their dreams,” Uytico said.
While he admitted to some “limitations” in the delivery of lessons under the new normal, Uytico maintained that DepEd has contributed a lot to lighten the burden.
The region has 13 schools division superintendents who sacrificed traveling to report to their assignments in the provinces, the official said.
"Our teachers and principals are also doing many things," he added.
As of Friday, October 2, the region already printed a total of 72.02 percent of the learning modules for all the students.
While the reproduction of modules is still ongoing, Uytico assured the public that they are going to achieve 1 student : 1 module ratio for the first week of the school year.
In the absence of modules, the students will be using activity sheets and other learning materials prepared by the teachers.
Dr. Rosemarie Guino, chief of Curriculum and Learning Management Division, said the region will be using printed modules and digitized materials with supplementary modalities such as television, radio, and online distance learning.
“These supplementary modalities will be used by communities or areas with access to internet, TV, and radio and to those who have gadgets,” she said.
Based on a survey, the majority of the parents and learners in the region preferred modular learning (52 percent).
According to regional finance officer Alma Suyom, they already downloaded the funds from the central office to all the 13 divisions in the region for the implementation of their learning continuity plan.
New challenges
Uytico said the quality of education is a challenge in the new normal classes, noting that physical interaction between the teachers and students is limited.
However, he assured that DepEd Eastern Visayas “will not settle for less.”
Uytico also advised the teachers to use the previous grading system and contextualize it while they are still waiting for the new guidelines.
According to the education official, the health crisis will pave the way for a partnership between the parents and their students, particularly on the value of honesty since the students will be answering their modules at home.
More hiring
Dr. Isidro Catubig, chief of Policy Planning and Research Division, said the region has 455 teacher items distributed to all 13 divisions
“Our divisions are still in the process of filling up these items provided by the Central Office by May 2020,” Catubig said.
The number of items includes Baybay City (21), Biliran (14), Borongan City (7), Calbayog City (11), Catbalogan City (8), Eastern Samar (31), Leyte (166), Maasin City (11), Northern Samar (46), Ormoc City (27), Samar (48), Southern Leyte (49) and Tacloban City (16).
The region is also expecting the second batch of teacher items before the end of the school year.
Uytico, however, said they are waiting for the guidelines from the Central Office on the hiring of para-teachers to help the parents and teachers in the new normal education.
Help for private schools
Uytico said they are “silently helping” the private schools in the region through their permits in the opening of classes.
According to the regional office, only 282 out of the 301 private schools are ready to open this school year.
At least 270 of these private schools have already started last August 24.
Out of 282 schools, only 204 will use modular, while 78 schools will use online due to their existing facilities.
But the application for private schools is still ongoing.
Uytico said the resilience of Eastern Visayas is contributory to the success of the new normal classes in the region, citing how the region bounced back during the 2013 Super Typhoon Yolanda.
He also thanked the private sector for donating equipment for the safety of the teachers.
As of Sunday, October 4, Eastern Visayas reported the region’s total number of coronavirus cases at 4,930, total recoveries at 4,200 (85.19 percent), and total deaths at 46 (0.93 percent), bringing the total active cases to 684 (13.87 percent). (SunStar Philippines)