Extreme heat caused many public schools recently to once again shift to alternative modes of teaching, prompting the Senate Committee on Basic Education to discuss its effects on students through a hearing scheduled on Tuesday, April 30.
Senator Sherwin Gatchalian, chairperson of the said committee, issued this statement on Monday amid concerns over the potential learning losses of school-aged children, especially for those who have unstable internet access at home.
Gatchalian said he is aware that some parents prefer onsite classes over the blended learning set up. This is largely due to the challenges confronting parents, who did not have the time to focus on assisting their children during online classes because of work commitments.
“It would appear that the majority of parents favor face-to-face classes,” Gatchalian said, noting there are parents who are not amenable to distance learning, citing the many distractions on their children. In some cases, parents were the ones answering modules and doing projects on behalf of the students.
The Department of Education (DepEd) announced over the weekend that asynchronous classes in public schools would continue from April 29 to 30 in view of the prevailing danger level heat index and the ongoing nationwide transport strike.
Under DepEd Order No. 037 s. 2022, modular distance learning, performance tasks, projects, or make-up courses shall be implemented when classes are canceled or suspended. Gatchalian emphasized this system has its fair share of challenges for all stakeholders.
“We will balance all of these issues (moving forward),” he said. Though DepEd already started the gradual shift to the old school calendar, Gatchalian urged the agency anew to study the possibility of having a shorter transition period.
The senator has been pushing to revert to the old academic calendar in which classes start in June and end by March. This way, the school break will start during the dry months (March, April and May) to avoid periods of intense heat in the country.
