Learners will get help with connection and 21st century skills from DepEd

DSG | Learners will get help with connection and 21st century skills from DepEd | MANILA – The Department of Education (DepEd) wants every student to have good internet access so they can learn skills for the 21st century and keep up with digital technology.

During the talks that took place in Pasay City on Wednesday after the State of the Nation Address (SONA), DepEd spokesperson Michael Poa said that this “direction” will help fix many basic education problems, especially those caused by the Covid-19 pandemic.

“We all know that there aren’t enough classes and teachers, and we all know that there aren’t enough classrooms. So, we will keep hiring and adding more teachers and classrooms. With the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) as a partner, we will definitely build schools that can withstand natural disasters. But other than that, they stay problems because it’s hard to catch up. Because of this, there is a second path we want to look into. In fact, we’re starting right now, and we’re using technology to do it,” Poa said.

During his second State of the Nation Address (SONA), President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. said that lessons learned from the pandemic have led to the use of alternative delivery methods and mixed learning methods to make sure that learning doesn’t get in the way.

Poa said that the DepEd has been putting in place new and relevant changes to re-align the curriculum, provide fast and responsive education services, and look out for the welfare of both students and teachers. All of these things are part of the agency’s two-track approach.

“We started this year because, number one, back then, when something like this happened, there was no way to get out. We have no way out if there is a natural tragedy or a man-made one. But when we had typhoons in the past, lessons were cancelled right away. Classes were cancelled when there was an earthquake or a disaster caused by people. But now, since we are in learning recovery mode, we don’t have to stop learning, so we don’t have to stop reading. We only cancel lessons when it rains, which is no longer very often. Only the in-person classes are being put on hold, he said.

“Other than that, we want to use technology to make our schools less crowded. We think that instituting blended learning is a better way to quickly clear out our schools than just switching plans,” he said.

Poa said that DepEd continues to give learners e-learning tools, pointing out that basic education learners are prepared with 21st-century skills not only for jobs in the Philippines but also for jobs abroad. (via PNA)