Online classes will only be “supplementary” for public schools in the first quarter of the upcoming school year, Department of Education (DepEd) officials said Wednesday, citing “preference of households” as the country shifts to distance learning.
The use of TV and radio as education delivery modes will also be supplementary for the first quarter, DepEd Undersecretary Nepomuceno Malaluan told lawmakers during a hearing.
“In the first quarter, online, TV and radio are supplementary,” he said during a hearing of the Senate Committee on Basic Education, Arts and Culture.
“The use of tech also has a mix of capacity issue as well as a preference issue by the households,” he said.
A previous survey by DepEd showed that the majority of students and parents prefer to use printed learning materials for distance learning due to the lack of gadgets or internet connectivity for online classes.
DepEd had said that the printed learning materials can also be accessed on its online platform DepEd Commons. Downloads can also be made at Education PH.
Over 1 million devices for distance learning will be distributed by DepEd, its officials said.
Around 99 percent of learning materials for the first quarter meanwhile were already printed by DepEd, education officials added.
Classes in public schools are set to start on Oct. 5 through distance learning as the COVID-19 pandemic threatens the health and safety of students.
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