A major group of private schools expressed support for President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s decision to extend the “blended learning” program beyond October 31 in specific areas to be identified by the Department of Education (DepEd).
In a statement, the Coordinating Council of Private Educational Associations (COCOPEA) and its affiliate organizations in various regions hailed the decision of the President on the proposal of Education Secretary Sara Duterte-Carpio to use blended learning to address several challenges in implementing full face-to-face classes in certain areas.
COCOPEA also reiterated its commitment to support the re-opening of schools to in-person classes of students.
“With this new development, the COCOPEA reiterates its appeal to allow their member schools the flexibility and wide latitude to combine online and other remote learning modalities with in-person classes beyond October 31, 2022,” said COCOPEA managing director Joseph Noel Estrada.
“Aligned with our common mission to deliver the best learning to our students, we appeal to the Education Secretary to allow continuity in schools who have successfully integrated blended learning in their curriculum,” the group said.
It said the unique experiences in private schools in the last two years on the effective implementation of online learning platforms allowed for a diversity of instructional strategies to maintain the quality of learning through the quality of teachers and the use of innovative teacher training, content development, educational technology and media.
“With the integration of online and remote modalities to face-to-face classes this coming school year, it would allow these private schools to further enhance their students’ learning experiences without compromising their safety against COVID-19,” COCOPEA said.
The private schools association said it also supports the idea of Duterte-Carpio on using blended learning to help in resolving many challenges in implementing in-person classes such as shortage of teachers, classrooms and other concerns.
“The cost of the return to face-to-face classes of all students in some of these small struggling schools may not be readily afforded by them without government assistance as they still hope to improve their enrolment in the coming school year. It may be recalled that around 400 private schools all over the country had zero enrolment in the last school year, and around 400,000 students have moved to the public schools as reported by the Department of Education,” it said.
The group said that in 2020, around 700 private schools were reported to have permanently closed.
“COCOPEA will be happy to participate in any consultations, discussions and meetings to share the learnings, studies and experiences in support of the Education Secretary Sara Duterte’s plans moving forward towards the institutionalization of blended learning for the entire Philippine education system,” it said.
