Learning Modality: Face to Face Handa ka na ba?
Colleen D. Garcia
According to a survey conducted by Statista, a Global Survey Company, in September 2021, 30% of Filipino respondents perceive the current distance-learning model was around 20% to 50% effective. On the other hand, 14% of respondents stated that such learning model is 80% to 100% effective.
Distance education or Distance learning is not a new concept. In fact, as radio developed during the First World War and television in the 1950s, instruction outside of the traditional classroom had suddenly found a new delivery system. There are many examples of how early radio and television were used in schools to deliver instruction at a distance. In addition, this particular idea of distance learning has been opted by DepEd amidst the pandemic in order to mitigate the spread of Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19).
However, behind these facts and surveys lies a question that has always been ask since the start of quarantines and lockdowns, will distance learning be the permanent setup for Philippine Education or will traditional face-to-face method be back in no time?
Last February 7, 2022, Education Secretary Leonor Magtolis Briones said that outstanding coordination of the Department of Education (DepEd), Department of Health (DOH), and the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) would pave the way into limited face-to-face classes and vaccination of students. The said collaboration will also ensure that policies to protect education stakeholders are streamlined among these agencies.
“The program for face-to-face classes which the President already delegated to us is a responsibility of three main agencies with DepEd as the main implementing agency. Then we have the Department of Health as our partner on health issues and risk assessment reports,” Secretary Briones noted.
Assistant Secretary Malcolm Garma pointed out, however, that the addition of more grade levels should be based on the capacity of the participating qualified schools to guarantee adherence to health and safety protocols. Initially, only Kindergarten, Grades 1 to 3, and Senior High School were allowed to participate in the pilot implementation of in-person learning. Asec. Garma also noted that only vaccinated teachers might join the expanded face-to-face classes, while vaccinated learners are preferred.
However, the public opinion is separated by those who adapted and excelled during distance learning and really want the current setup to continue, and those who crave for face-to-face system due to inefficiency and ineffectiveness brought by distance learning.
The Department of Education in Central Visayas (DepEd-7) disclosed that a recently conducted survey among learners, teachers, and parents showed most of them are still in favor of face-to-face classes. And based on the recent pilot study of limited face-toface classes for basic education conducted last Nov. 15 to Dec. 17, 2021, Studentparticipants were generally “satisfied” with their overall experience during the pilot run of limited face-to-face classes. In addition to that, based on Social Weather Stations (SWS) survey, 89% of families with enrolled school-age members said that the current distance learning system is more difficult than face-to-face learning.
Although, survey also showed that 45% of families with enrolled school-age members said their expenses are lower and 60% of families with enrolled school-age members also said they allot more time now to teach and guide children in the blended learning system than in the traditional face-to-face system.
Overall, DepEd is open to conduct limited face-to-face learning setup for areas with minimal cases of COVID-19 to ensure the safety of its Teachers and its Learners while imparting quality knowledge and skills to the students. At the same time, DepEd is also ready continue and render different distance learning for places under strict surveillance due to rampant cases to avoid and minimize the spread of COVID-19.
The author
is Teacher
--oOo-
III at Carmencita Elementary School