DepEd Usec: Modules not yet printed; 60% of teachers yet to be trained

The Department of Education Undersecretary Diosdado San Antonio said Thursday DepEd has yet to train 60 percent of its 800,000 public school teachers for distance learning, and modules are not yet printed.

“We hope to be able to provide the training to our fellow teachers this coming July, the remaining 60%,” San Antonio said in a Senate hearing.

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The National Educators Academy of the Philippines handled the training that would equip teachers to “convert materials into e-books or into other digital formats,” he added.

“There are also local initiatives from the division offices, regional offices, where the teachers are also being given training activities,” San Antonio added.

Meanwhile, the printing of self-learning modules for students has yet to start, another DepEd official said.

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“‘Yung pag-iimprenta ng self-learning modules, hindi pa po nangyayari ngayong buwan ng Hunyo. Inaasahan po natin na gagawin natin sa susunod na buwan,” DepED Legislative Affairs Toni Umali said.

(The printing of self-learning modules is not yet happening this June. Let’s hope we do it next month.)

“Printing of materials usually takes 30 to 60 days, including delivery,” he added.

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Nonetheless, the official assured that the lessons for the first quarter of the school year 2020-2021 are already prepared.

“Unang markahan nakakasa na po iyan. ‘Yun naman po ang mahalaga eh, ang first batch ng learning modules handa by August 24. Kasi we’re contextualizing po ang aming mga materyales ngayon na nakadisenyo,” Umali said.

(Those for the first grading are already prepared. That’s all that matters, the first batch of learning modules are ready by August 24. Because we’re contextualizing our materials.)

Chair of the Senate committee of education Senator Sherwin Gatchalian said the “risk of not learning” must be addressed amid the coronavirus pandemic.

“‘In my point of view whatever calamity, whether man-made, whether derived from human action, learning must go on,” he said.

“The risk of not learning is something we cannot bear because it has far-reaching deep consequences to our country and the nation’s development,” he added.

Based on data from the DepEd, around 14.4 million K-12 students already enrolled in public and private schools as of today.