Use technology as alternative mode of teaching, Sen. Go urges educators

As the threats of COVID-19 continue to reduce physical mobility, Senator Christopher Lawrence “Bong” Go recommended to the education sector to make use of technology as they innovate on how to conduct teaching and learning while adhering to the physical distancing pro

tocols and other measures set by the government to curb the spread of the dreaded coronavirus disease.

“Pag-isipan na po natin paano makakapag-aral ang mga kabataan na may social distancing at iba pang mga hakbang na ipapatupad depende sa sitwasyon sa mga lugar nila (Let’s think of new ways of educating the youth to comply with social distancing protocols and other health measures in place in various localities),” Go said.

He reminded concerned agencies and educational institutions to guide students in preparation for the next school year considering that classes are supposed to resume as early as August while the whole world is still trying to put an end to the COVID-19 pandemic.

“Hindi pa natin alam kung ano ang mangyayari sa susunod na mga buwan. Sinisikap po natin na maflatten na ang curve at matapos na ang krisis na ito. Pero hindi pa rin tayo dapat maging kampante kaya importanteng may precautionary measures pa rin in place para hindi na muling kumalat ang sakit (We still do not know what happens next month as we are trying to flatten the curve and end this crisis. We should not be overconfident, instead we should keep precautionary measures to avoid further spead of the disease),” Go said.

“Paghandaan natin kung papaano magpapatuloy ang ating pamumuhay sa panahon ng ‘new normal.’ Maglatag na po tayo ng kailangang policies and protocols. Siguraduhin nating makapag-aral ang kabataan habang patuloy nating nilalabanan ang COVID-19 (Let’s prepare for the new normal by coming up with new protocols and policies. Let’s make sure the education of students continues while we battle COVID-19),” he added.

Go encouraged educational institutions to explore possible online or distance learning programs for students to be able to continue their studies without putting them in harm’s way or adding burden to them and their families given the challenges under the COVID-19 situation.

“Hindi naman po pwedeng tumigil ang kanilang pag-aaral (Their education should not stop),” Go said, adding that “schools must also prepare their facilities and lay down protocols in preparation for the possible scenarios that students, teachers, and education personnel face when classes resume.”

Go also urged the private sector, particularly telecommunication companies and media networks, to help the education sector by allowing the use of their platforms for educational purposes.

“Gamitin ang teknolohiya na available para sa distance learning tulad ng pagkakaroon ng virtual classrooms. May airtime rin na allotted for educational programs ayon sa batas, pwede po itong gamitin bilang alternative mode of teaching and learning (Use available technology for distance learning, like having virtual classrooms. The law states that there should be airtime allotted for educational programs and this should be utilized for alternative mode of teaching and learning),” he said.

Go is referring to RA 8370 or the Children’s Television Act of 1997 which states that “a minimum of 15 percent of the daily total airtime of each broadcasting network shall be allotted for child-friendly shows within the regular programming of all networks granted franchises or as a condition for renewal of broadcast licenses hereinafter, to be included as part of the network’s responsibility of serving the public.”

Meanwhile, Go also said that in order to successfully implement the Balik Probinsya, Bagong Pag-asa (BP2) Program, the government must be able to further improve the education system nationwide and assure that schools in the provinces can accommodate more students.

Go said that the education system in rural areas must be enhanced to prepare for the transfer of students. Aside from the physical facilities of schools, Go said that a thorough review of teaching strategies based on new technology and availability of the Internet for E-learning must be considered.

“Kapag maganda ang education system sa iba’t ibang rehiyon sa bansa, mas makakaenganyo ito sa mga pamilya na umuwi sa kanilang probinsya (Families will be more inspired to return to the provinces if they offer good education system),” Go explained.

“Marami naman pong magagaling na eskwelahan sa iba’t ibang parte ng bansa. Pruweba rito ang resulta ng 2020 Bar exams kung saan ‘probinsyano’ ang karamihan na nasa Top 10... Patunay ito na kung patuloy nating ayusin pa ang kalidad ng edukasyon sa mga lalawigan, hindi na kailangang lumuwas ng Kamaynilaan para magaral (There are a lot of good schools in various parts of the country. One proof is the result of the 2020 Bar examinations in which a number of those from provincial schools were in the top 10… This is proof that if we continue to improve quality of education in the provinces, students would find no need to go to urban areas to study),” Go added.

Go encouraged the Department of Education, Commission on Higher Education, and Technical Education and Skills Development Authority to work together and continue improving the quality and capacity of schools nationwide.

Go expressed his appreciation for DepEd’s efforts of laying out the Basic Education-Learning Continuity Plan (BE-LCP) to ensure that learning among Filipino students continues amid the global pandemic. The BELCP has been approved and adopted by the Inter-Agency Task Force after consultation with partner institutions and organizations.

The adjustments under this comprehensive continuity plan cover the K to 12 curriculum. It aligns learning materials, provides various modalities of delivery, and includes teacher and parent/guardian training for homeschooling.

With school opening scheduled on August 24, the DepEd said that schools may be allowed to hold physical classes as long as they meet the requirements set by proper authorities, both national and local. These include measures to ensure the health and safety of students, the teachers, and the nonteaching personnel in educational institutions.

Go also commended the DepEd for its “Sulong EduKalidad” initiative. Launched last December, “Sulong EduKalidad” involves reforms to achieve quality in basic education in “response to the rapidly changing learning environment of present and future learners and will introduce aggressive reforms to globalize the quality of basic education in the Philippines.”

To reduce physical contact among students and teaching personnel once the school year has opened, DepEd is also preparing guidelines that would limit the number of students to 15 to 20 per classroom.

However, Go said this will pose challenges given the limited number of classrooms and teachers in the country. He appealed that funding must be made available for the construction and repair of school facilities.

Last year, Go filed Senate Bill No. 396 seeking to amend Section 272 of the Local Government Code of 1991 by expanding the application of the Special Education Fund taken from the additional 1% on real property tax.

If this proposed measure is passed into law, LGUs will be allowed to utilize their SEF to further improve education facilities such as for the operation and maintenance of public schools; construction and repair of school buildings and libraries, facilities and equipment; payment of salaries, allowances and other benefits of teaching and nonteaching personnel; competency trainings for teaching personnel; operation of Alternative Learning System; among others.