Several public and private schools have opened their doors to students for face-to-face classes earlier this year.
Data from the Department of Education showed at least 5.9 million public school students from all grade levels participated in in-person classes, or 25.61 percent of the 23.23 million total enrollees in the current academic year.
This August, many more schools across the country will resume full face-to-face classes. While this represents progress amid the pandemic, it also imposes many challenges not only on safety protocols but also on how to address learning gaps.
The core issue: Learning gaps
Inconsistencies between what a student knows and what he or she should have known by a specific point in his or her education are what are considered as learning gaps. When COVID-19 broke out, students were forced to immediately adapt to online classes. The past two years brought about heightened concerns for the gaps experienced by learners.
With the shift back to face-to-face classes, this can once more affect students’ abilities to optimally learn, particularly for those experiencing learning gaps.
To make face-to-face classes work, there is a need to extensively prepare students so that they can cope with the pacing for their new lessons in their respective grade levels.
A survey by SEQuRe Education in March revealed that the implementation approaches for in-classroom learning were decentralized and dependent on how schools would execute these.
Better in-person learning
DepEd in June launched its Basic Education Development Plan (BEDP) 2030 aimed at alleviating the problems made more pronounced by the pandemic. The first phase of the program includes addressing access gaps and streamlining different key areas of educational development for students such as reading and numeracy.
Schools need to work together to address students’ needs while gaining a competitive edge to increase enrollment rates.
To accomplish this, students’ optimized access to learning opportunities must be prioritized. This includes being exposed to world-class e-learning content, assessments, and pedagogy. With these, students can master the competencies that are aligned with BEDP 2030.
Public as well as private schools should highly consider reviewing, modifying, and improving their processes in bridging gaps and achieving their target competencies. Teachers also need support to reinforce their students’ learning by adapting to the dynamics of limited and full face-to-face classes, and increasing teaching effectiveness through new tools and teaching methodologies.
The second phase of the BEDP 2030 entails applying different learning innovations. A great option and partner for schools to address these challenges is Frontlearners, Inc., an e-learning content and teaching solutions provider.
Improved educational landscape
In its implementation of a free Bridging Program for Math, Science, and English over the academic break, Frontlearners, Inc. aimed to assist schools and teachers to help their students gain the foundational knowledge to be ready for their next grade levels.
Besides offering effective e-learning tools, Frontlearners, Inc. also provides direct support to schools in helping teachers reinforce students’ competencies. Through these, students can be better equipped and ready for the coming academic year in August and private schools will get support to boost their enrollment rates.
Frontlearners, Inc. helps schools latch on to the government’s long-term plan with a focus on maximizing educational competitiveness for students in the months ahead.
To learn more about Frontlearners, Inc. and how they can assist private schools to boost enrollments and drive student competencies, visit https://frontlearners.com.