Suggested screen time for learners

Liezl Gail L. Cadag

The Department of Education (DepEd) has suggested that schools implement the screen time guidelines recommended by the American Academy of Pediatrics and the World Health Organization.

The prescribed screen time guidelines for the conduct of online classes depend by age or grade level.

As part of DepEd’s distance learning strategies, the agency shared on Facebook the prescribed time for kindergarten, grades 1 to 5, grades 6 to 8, and grades 9 to 12.

According to DepEd, the number of hours that students could spend online is included in DepEd memorandum 2020-00162 or the “Suggested Strategies in Implementing Distance Learning Modalities”, as the education system in the country shifts to distance learning.

Under the said memo, DepEd said Kindergarten pupils should have maximum of one hour daily screen time; Grades 1 to 5, maximum of 1.5 hours daily; Grades 6 to 8, maximum of two hours; Grades 9 to 12, a maximum of four hours daily ( two hours in the morning and another two hours in the afternoon).

This strategy, DepEd said, was suggested pending the “Policy Guidelines on the Implementation of Learning Delivery Modalities for Formal Education” that would be issued to schools which were closed because of the Covid-19 pandemic.

The memo also said: “In Preparation of the Weekly Home Learning Plan and Class Programs, schools shall comply with the recommended screen time for learners.”

It also says that “Online activities shall be complemented with locomotion, motor-sensory, and audio tools which will support subjects related to performing arts and clubs. Learners shall be provided with activity sheets and be given performance-based tasks to accomplish.”

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The author is Administrative Assistant II at DepEd Division of San Fernando