Implementation of f2f classes over blended learning

By: Christine Gail Borbon

From the start, everyone knows that the education officials are aware of the challenges posed by blended learning to both students and educators. Blended learning was deemed to be better than nothing as the pandemic forced children to stay at home.

The lack of the needed gadgets and internet connectivity for distance learning was the first major hurdle. Approximately 2.7 million school children did not enroll – many because of this lack, and others because some parents had lost their livelihoods and there are school children who lack a private space at home that is conducive to learning.

On the other hand, too many children are being left when it comes to education, and it will have a significant impact on national development. Because of these challenges, our Education Officials, Department of Education (DepEd) and the Commission on Higher Education (CHED), have all been too keen on setting up limited face-to-face classes in certain areas, for a select number of schools, and in the case of colleges, for specific programs and degree courses.

For DepEd, a pilot run of limited face-to-face classes has been set for Nov. 15, 2021 for schools in areas identified to be under low risk of COVID-19. The Department says that it is not pushing this program with just blind faith. They have worked closely with child health experts as well as those from the Department of Health, with the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-EID) and other concerned groups. For its part, CHED promises the same level of preparedness, with 73 percent of higher education personnel from all over the country supposedly already vaccinated against COVID. The Commission eyes to run limited face-to-face classes in areas identified to have low COVID cases and higher rates of vaccination.

Based on the interview our Education Secretary Leonor Briones said Thursday the pilot study of in-person classes, which started on Nov. 15, is successful so far, saying there has not been a single recorded case of COVID-19 among students.

“Tatapusin na namin itong pilot na ito by December para ma-assess namin ang success. But so far very successful naman, (We will finish the pilot by December so that we can assess its success. But so far it’s been very successful.)” she said in an awarding ceremony in Mandaluyong City. “Talagang iimplement namin ang tunay na polisiya para sa edukasyon ang blended learning, combination ng digital learning at saka face-to-face, (We will implement the true policy for education which is blended learning, a combination of digital learning and face-to-face classes.)” she added.

Briones also said that the government aims to open face-to-face classes not only in rural areas but also in urban areas with high concentrations of children such as Metro Manila and Calabarzon, and other highly urbanized cities.

“Malaki ang aming interest na mag open ng face-to-face hindi lang sa mga lugar na walang masyadong tao kundi sa urban areas. We’re thinking largely of NCR, we’re thinking largely also of Region 4A, and the large cities na napakaraming bata ang na-concentrate doon, (We are highly interested in opening face-to-face classes not only in areas with low population but also in urban areas. We’re thinking of Metro Manila and Calabarzon and large cities with large concentrations of children.)” she said.

At present, over 300 schools are conducting face-to-face classes, including 28 in Metro Manila.