Sulong EduKalidad continues amidst COVID-19 Crisis

DepEd encourages teachers and learners to use alternative delivery learning platforms like internet and television.

In a press statement released last March 24, the Department of Education (DepEd) emphasized that education must continue despite the COVID-19 Pandemic. ““This is how things need to be done [in this current situation]. Government has to continue, education has to continue, services have to be delivered, salaries and benefits have to be paid,” Briones said during their virtual press conference.

DepEd Commons

With schools closed due to the Enhanced Community Quarantine of the national government, DepEd has set up a virtual learning site called DepEd Commons which can be accessed via commons.deped.gov.ph. It houses close to 300 educational resources from Kindergarten to Senior High School and the Alternative Learning System.

DepEd Commons also has videos from Knowledge Channel which are based on their K-to-12 curriculum.

As of March 17, more than 400,000 teachers have joined the online platform which is free to use.

DepEd Undersecretary Alain Del Pascua did acknowledge the limitations of DepEd Commons as it was only accessible to those with internet connection. “We acknowledge the reality of situation wherein DepEd Commons and Open Education Resources (OER) are not accessible to all teachers and learners,” he said. “Many of our schools still do not have connectivity and access to Internet.”

EduKalidad sa Kalamidad

To assist DepEd, Knowledge Channel Foundation (KCFI) continues EduKalidad sa Kalamidad, an emergency education program where educational shows on Knowledge Channel are adjusted to meet the current needs of learners. Being the first and only curriculum-based TV channel, learners can catch up with their fourth quarter lessons at home even without internet.

Families with ABS-CBN TV plus and TVplus GO in Metro Manila, Rizal, Cavite, Laguna, Metro Cebu, and Cagayan de Oro can watch Knowledge Channel on channel 7. SKYcable subscribers can watch Knowledge Channel on channel 5 while those with SKYdirect can watch Knowledge Channel on channel 12.

(Know more about Edukalidad sa Kalamidad)

In a video speech last March 18, KCFI President and Executive Director Rina Lopez Bautista reminded students to “Stay at Home, Learn at Home”. “Kaya nating matuto kasama ang Knowledge Channel at internet. Huwag lalabas kung hindi naman kailangan,” Bautista reminded.

Briones also reminded that despite the COVID-19 Pandemic, Sulong EduKalidad will continue.  “We should not abandon Sulong EduKalidad. It is a very tough, challenging, and exciting task to balance our existing programs with the immediate and urgent necessities at this time.”

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