MAJORITY of Dabawenyos see the need for limited face-to-face (F2F) classes, which is a "best" learning modality in improving social interactions among learners, according to a local survey.
In a survey conducted by the University of Mindanao Institute of Popular Opinion (UM-IPO) from March 22 to 28, almost six of 10, or 57 percent of the respondents see the need for limited F2F classes for their children or siblings, while three of 10 expressed that physical classes are not yet needed and that it could be deferred for another year. The remaining one of 10 Dabawenyos are unsure on the necessity of F2F classes now.
According to UM-IPO, this could be attributed to Dabawenyos who have adjusted already with the online and modular learning setups at the height of the pandemic, which spanned for almost two years already.
In addition, five out of 10 or 53.2 percent of the respondents see F2F classes as the best learning modality, while three of 10 Dabawenyos believe in continuing online learning, and one of 10 expressed interest in continuing modular-based learning.
Respondents, however, are divided in perception of readiness of learners toward face-to-face learning. The survey showed that three of 10 Dabawenyos believe that their children/siblings are fully ready for it, while nearly four of 10 Dabawenyos said learners in their households are "somewhat ready." Two of 10 Dabawenyos, on the other hand, said that their learners at home are a little ready, with one of 10 saying otherwise.
Survey results on the perception of adequacy of technology for a F2F-ready classroom are also divided. Four of 10 agreed that schools are ready in terms of adequate technology support, three of 10 strongly agreeing for the same, while two of 10 say they are unsure on whether schools are ready.
When asked if teachers are ready for F2F classes, four of 10 also believed that teachers are ready and three of 10 believed that teachers are fully ready. The rest of the respondents expressed either uncertainty of opinion on teachers’ readiness or believing that the same are not yet ready for the new setup.
Eight out of 10 or 53 percent "strongly agree" that F2F classes are better in improving social interactions among learners, while 27.5 percent agree.
UM-IPO also asked respondents to evaluate the current setup their children or siblings have engaged in learning. Results showed that close to five of 10 Dabawenyos are somewhat satisfied with either purely online, purely modular, or blended learning as a learning delivery method while two of 10 said that they are very much satisfied with the setup during the pandemic.
The survey organizer said that the output of the survey comes after President Rodrigo Duterte’s pronouncements on the “progressive expansion” of face-to-face classes, in all levels, for both public and private institutions of learning.
Duterte, early January this year, approved the Department of Education's (DepEd) proposal to expand in-person classes, subject to the safety measures to be set by the health department and the concurrence of local governments and parents.
The conduct of F2F classes, however, is only recommended to areas under Alert Level 1 and 2.
SunStar Davao reached out to DepEd-Davao for reaction on the recently conducted survey. However, they have not responded as of writing.
DepEd-Davao spokesperson Jenielito Atillo said in a previous report that a total of 293 schools in Davao Region have reopened as of March 14, 2022.
Atillo said they are targeting to reopen all schools in the region for F2F.