“No’ng nag-desisyon na ang Presidente na ipagpaliban muna ‘yong pag-allow ng mga bata na 10-14 years old sa MGCQ areas and provinces kami ay pumapayag, dahil may batas na tayo na nagsasabing ang presidente ang magdedesisyon tungkol sa pagbukas, pagsara ng ating mga programa sa Department of Education on the recommendation of the Department of Education,” Secretary Leonor Magtolis Briones said during the Laging Handa press briefing on Tuesday.
“Wala kaming problema riyan [o] agam-agam. Naiintindihan namin dahil noong ginawa ang desisyon na ‘yan ‘di pa natin nakita kung gaano ka-seryoso ang threat ng mga pag-develop, paglabas ng mga bagong variants ng COVID-19,” she added.
Sec. Briones noted the Department’s continuous implementation of academic ease measures to lessen the mental stress of learners at home.
“Ang ginawa natin sa Department of Education ‘yong tinatawag nating academic ease. Pinaluwagan natin ‘yong mga requirements dahil nagbigay ng feedback ang parents at mga bata na naninibago sila sa dami ng mga assignments, so iyon ang ginagawa natin, ‘yong academic ease,” Briones noted.
The academic ease measures introduced by DepEd include the reconsideration of time allotment for the completion and submission of activities by the learners and the expansion of mental health/socio-emotional well-being support to teachers, learners, and parents through group wellness sessions.
The Department also expressed its readiness to implement the pilot implementation of limited face-to-face classes should the health situation in the country improve.
“Kung maayos na natin itong ating health issues, kasi primordial iyong protection ng mga bata, ay puwede na nating i-apply iyong ating binabalak, for example, na pilot studies [of face-to-face classes],” the Secretary shared.
“Binabantayan natin kung ano ang developments hinggil sa COVID at saka ang desisyon ng Presidente tungkol sa pag-protect ng ating mga bata at ng ating mga teachers. So, mahirap magsabi ngayon kasi ang nagdi-determine largely as I said is the state of danger or threat that COVID still poses to our children and to our teachers,” Briones emphasized.
Meanwhile, Briones also reiterated that teachers will not handle actual vaccination procedures. Rather, she said DepEd can help in the information campaign for the government’s vaccination program.
“Ang malaking kontribusyon ng mga teachers ay iyong pagpalaganap ng impormasyon hinggil sa vaccine. But even for that, kailangan silang i-brief nang husto, nang maayos ng malaman nila talaga kung ano benefits o ang protection na maibigay ng vaccine sa mga teachers. So more on the educational aspect; wala sa pag-participate in medical procedures because that would really be malpractice,” she said.
source: deped.gov.ph
