MANILA — Parents do not need to buy their children gadgets for the coming school year as printed materials will be provided to ensure continued learning, the Department of Education said Thursday.

This, as the new school year is set to begin with classes held using alternative modes, with physical classes still discouraged because of the continuing risk of the coronavirus disease.

Some parents have trooped to shops in search of cheap computers and laptops that their children could use for the school year, which was scheduled to start on August 24.

• Dahil sa online class: Mga bilihan ng murang PC dinagsa ng mga estudyante

Education Undersecretary Nepomuceno Malaluan said schools would provide printed modules for students without gadgets or access to the internet.

"Kahit walang gadget o walang internet, kami po ay naghahanda din ng printed learning modules at gagawan natin ng paraan para maihatid sa mga tahanan," he said in a televised press briefing.

(Even though they don't have gadgets or internet (access), we are also preparing printed learning modules and we will find a way to deliver these to students' homes.)

The use of printed modules is one of the components of distance learning, which schools may implement for the coming school year since physical classes have been discouraged to avoid exposing learners and teachers to the risk of the coronavirus disease.

DepEd will also use online platforms, television and radio to deliver lessons to learners.

During the month-long enrollment in June, enrollees would be asked to answer a survey, which would help identify which learning delivery mode was suitable for the student.

• DepEd sets month-long enrollment in June