MANILA — The Department of Education (DepEd) said Tuesday that it will provide training and orientation for parents and guardians who will supervise children's studies at home.
Parents will also need to prepare as they take on a "bigger role" now that most students will learn their lessons from home, said Education Undersecretary Tonisito Umali.
"We expect partnership with, for example, the homeschoolers' associations. Naikasa na namin 'yan para magkaroon ng orientation activities ang mga magulang," Umali told Teleradyo.
(We expect partnership with, for example, the homeschoolers' associations. We have set that already so there will be orientation activities for parents.)
"Mayroon pong mga module po sila talaga na tukoy na tukoy 'yong mga competency, na dapat mayroon ang ating mga magulang para maging 'yong tinatawag nilang effective learning facilitators," he added.
(They have modules that identify competencies that parents must have to be effective learning facilitators.)
Physical classes have been discouraged to avoid exposing students, teachers and other school personnel to the risk of contracting the new coronavirus disease.
The DepEd has set a month-long enrollment for public schools this June.
So far, around 545,558 learners have confirmed their enrollment or expressed interest to transfer schools, based on data submitted from 4 regions, said Umali.
Of this figure, around 120,000 are in kindergarten, 209,000 in elementary school, 138,000 in junior high school, and 77,000 in senior high school.
The school year is scheduled to start on Aug. 24.
Several lawmakers and groups, however, have called on government to postpone the opening of classes until a vaccine against COVID-19 was made available. Others argued that the education system may not be ready to implement the alternative modes of learning.
The Senate on Monday approved on third and final reading a bill that allows that president to move the opening of classes beyond August during emergencies and calamities.
education, Department of Education, distance learning, homeschooling, enrollment, remote enrollment, school opening, class opening, coronavirus education, coronavirus school opening, parents training