SIQUIJOR, Sept. 1 (PIA) -- The commitment and overwhelming support they see in the parents and the local officials is enough to say that they value education regardless of what learning modality they use, as they together aspire to bring quality education amid this COVID-19 pandemic.
Department of Education (DepEd) Siquijor Division Superintendent Neri Ojastro revealed this during the Straight from the Source interview conducted by the Philippine Information Agency (PIA) in partnership with the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) here.
Ojastro lauded the parents, barangay officials, and all the local government units (LGUs) of Siquijor for the strong support that would allow them to deliver quality and unhampered learning under the new normal.
He said DepEd Siquijor has started preparing for the opening of classes since April with the new normal as first in its learning continuity plan while loooking at the learners’ preferred modality and their capacity to adopt online learning.
Inventory of modules available, series of training, and communication efforts to the community were likewise made as well as partnership with LGUs and other stakeholders as they, too, anticipate limitations of face-to-face learning modality, teachers’ capacity to handle online and modular and other modalities of learning, training including security and safety of the students and personnel, Ojastro said.
“Estrikto among pag implement sa (we are strictly implementing) standard health protocols,” he said, adding that they are on the final stage of orienting their teachers and school heads to effectively deliver the modular distance learning.
When asked about his own assessment on the preparedness and receptiveness of the students and the whole community, Ojastro said they have seen how parents positively received their efforts and that they are ready to support their children, regardless of what method or modality they use.
“Wala man negative feedback (There has been no negative feedback, so far). Motabang gyud gani ang mga ginikanan sa pagdistribute, kana lang daan nga commitment nakita namo (The parents even help us distribute the modules, that commitment alone) already shows how the parents value the education of their children,” he said.
“Learning is not confined in the four walls of the classroom. They see the modality as the key to continue education despite the pandemic,” he said, citing that majority of their teachers are amenable to their ways (modular learning), because they cannot do full time online as well as face-to-face learning with the pandemic.
During the interview, DepEd-Siquijor explained the two schemes of modular learning modality for Siquijor considering the issue on lack of internet connectivity and most of the students’ lack of gadgets for online learning.
“This is to ensure educational continuity amid the COVID-19 challenges,” Ojastro said.
Arvin Magpiong, Principal II of Candaping National High School (CNHS) also explained that under the two schemes, teachers went out of their way to reach the school children to ensure that no one is left behind.
The first scheme is the assignment of barangay and purok system as distribution and collection centers where most of the students reside, and the second scheme is the house-to-house-distribution and collection for the students in the far-flung barangays.
Magpiong said they have met challenges along the way especially in the distribution and collection to and from the far-flung areas - threats of dog bites, exposure to heat and rains, plus the bulk of modules the teachers have to carry, among others.
“Pero nalipay mi nga ang mga (but we are happy that) barangay captains are eager to help, sa walay pagduhaduha (without second thoughts),” he said.
“Education is at the forefront of this pandemic. We humbly appeal for your utmost cooperation and support for this new type of learning modality. We are in the new normal, this has to be embraced,” he said.
Meanwhile, Assistant Schools’ Division Superintendent Dr. Edmark Ian Cabio, while lauding the LGU’s commitment to help, also asked other stakeholders’ support in the reproduction of modules.
Cabio said they are positive that DepEd Siquijor is done with the modules, but that they need supplies for their reproduction as he cited the lack of or the difficulty in the procurement of supplies (bond papers, ink, printers, etc.) for the printing of modules, as one of their major challenges.
“Walay imposible kon kita magtinabangay, ug walay imposible kon anaa ang Ginoo (Nothing is impossible if we help each other, if there is God)," Cabio said and asked the public to include in their prayer intentions the success of this endeavor while assuring Siquijodnons of DepEd’s all-out effort to bring quality education even with the COVID-19 pandemic. (rac/PIA7-Siquijor)
Source: Philippines Information Agency (pia.gov.ph)
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