Embracing the change in the new normal education

It has been said that proper education is key to fight ignorance and bring out generations of Filipinos who will soon become productive members of society as well. In fulfilling these goals, while responding to this phase of time and the inevitable effects of the pandemic, it altered the normal delivery of educational services and introduced us to this “new normal”.

With this, one of its drastic results was the change of academic calendar year from June to August 2020 under Section 3 of Republic Act No. 7797, otherwise known as “An Act to Lengthen the School Calendar from 200 Days to Not More than 220 Class Days.”

Brought by this COVID-19 pandemic, DepEd will predictably open this academic year (AY) 2020-2021 on August 24 and end on April 30, 2021. According to the law effective 1995-96, the school year shall start on the first Monday of June but not later than the last day of August. It shall be determined as to the end of the regular school year by the Secretary of Department of Education (DepEd). With its full mandate, all institutions of higher education (HEIs), public or private institutions, are indulged to obey the rules of this law as well.

Different options for learning delivery are introduced, such as but not limited to face-to-face, mixed learning, distance learning, home education, and other delivery modes.  Such modalities of learning delivery are tailored according to the individual learning level of the learner, personal attributes, learning needs, and learning styles under the Alternative Learning System-Educations Skills Training (ALS-EST).

Relative to this, the Secretary of the Department of Education Leonor Briones mentioned that the alternative learning delivery modalities and SLMs are in place to address the needs, situations, and resources of every learner and will cover all the bases in ensuring that basic education will be accessible amid the present crisis posed by COVID-19.

Online classes and blended learning systems are options for classes with high risks unless the vaccine for COVID-19 will be found or the traditional classroom teaching is allowed by the government. But with those remotes areas where internet connectivity is the issue, learners may go with offline or blending learning system.

There are many noted shifts concerning the implementation of the learning delivery modes to the learners. And embracing it as part of the new normal is a must. ###