F2F: A Silver Bullet

THE Department of Education (DepEd) made its strongest push for the resumption of 5 days of face-to-face classes in the country by way of Memorandum Order No. 034, series of 2022, containing the calendar of activities for school year 2022-2023, and which was made public on July 2.

In the memorandum, DepEd recommended five days of in-person classes, a blended learning approach, and complete remote learning until October 31, 2022.

The DepEd also ordered that after November 2, 2022, no school shall be allowed to implement purely distance learning or blended learning except for those implementing Alternative Delivery Modes as provided in DO 21, s. 2019 (Policy Guidelines on the K to 12 Basic Education Program).

Forcing more F2F classes is necessary. While most schools, teachers, learners, and parents have been able to adapt to remote and blended modes of learning, in many circumstances, F2F is still the best option.

Worth emphasizing is the benefit of F2F for those who struggle with learning difficulties.

Furthermore, we are already seeing statistics that show learning poverty has gotten worse. In a recent study, the World Bank emphasized how global learning poverty has drastically grown because of school closures and other disruptions.

The World Bank also revealed that, even before COVID-19, the Philippines was one of the countries with the worst levels of global learning poverty.

According to the data from 2019 quoted in the report, “90.9% of Filipino children are unable to read and understand a simple passage by age 10.”

Dear Reader,

The World Bank also said, “We risk a catastrophe in terms of learning and human capital if we don’t take prompt action to address learning poverty.”

It added the futures of hundreds of millions of children throughout the world, as well for combatting learning gaps and losses. The transition to F2F classes will not go smoothly as planned, so we must give teachers and learners the space they need to stumble, regain their feet, and take any pauses they need before returning to school again. as their communities, are in danger “if they do not learn the fundamentals of literacy, together with numeracy and other essential skills.”

Forcing F2F classes is an achievement. Indeed, returning to the pre-pandemic ways of teaching and learning is a silver bullet

Letter from the Editors

“ Indeed, returning to the pre-pandemic ways of teaching and learning is a silver bullet for combatting learning gaps and losses. ”

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The Hillside Chronicle Editorial Staff