So, that's the ministry's answer to those children at the pre-school and primary school levels. For high school students, and those youths attending technical and vocational schools, the Ministry has asked the leadership of the different schools to create distance learning content that these students can access online.
The Deputy Chief Education Officer stressed that the Ministry does not want secondary school students to stare at a computer screen for an extended period of time:
Dr. Neulin Villanueva - Deputy Chief Education Officer, MOE
"At the secondary level now, and TVET's, each school is developing what's called a learning continuity plan, and that includes the content that they plan to continue with for the rest of the school year. We don't know if the school will reopen before the end of the school year, but we've asked them to plan for that eventuality. And so, they will be specifying that content. We've asked that they ensure that programs that they develop do not entail having students sit from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. in front of a computer. They are to give us information on the number of students who have access to what they're asking for, and to make sure that they make accommodations for those students who do not. And so, those plans are coming in to us. I believe we should have all of them by Friday to review and give our feedback. In addition to that, a number of schools and the ITVETs have collaborated on a learning package that's called the learner's link. And so, it's newsprint with information and activities in several subject areas. Those, again, will be available this week for students to pick up. For most districts, it's going to be in the major grocery stores. So, the idea is that when persons go to pick up groceries, they can pick up a copy of that publication."
Yma Casey - Representative, Ministry of Education
"And I think important just to remind our parents, our guardians out there how essential these packages are going to be, but primarily for those of our students who might not have access to the internet or radio. So, we want to ask for your cooperation. If it is that you have access to our online resources, or radio to tune in- what have you, then we're asking that we try as best as possible not to tap into this particular resources that we're going to be having for our secondary and TVET students."
Dr. Neulin Villanueva
"Yes, thank you for saying that Miss Casey because our efforts really aimed at reaching each student. And so, the copies of the material that we're printing will also be available on the website. So, those who have electronic access, we're asking them to print for themselves."
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