To optimize the benefits of face-to-face (F2F) learning for students who are participating in the pilot research, the Department of Education (DepEd) will assess face-to-face class hours.

Participants in the pilot resumption of F2F classes noted that the short class duration is one of the challenges faced by teachers and students, according to DepEd Undersecretary Nepomuceno Malaluan.

The education undersecretary noted that the three hours allotted for students in the Kindergarten level and four hours for the higher grade levels 1 to 3 and senior high school, were found to be too short for learning.

“It’s like parang bitin (inadequate) to maximize. All those efforts and when they come to the school, they would not have sufficient time to maximize the efforts to come back to schools,” Malaluan said.

“This is something that we will review, with respect to the time allotment, with our counterparts in the (Department of Health). This will be one of our agenda,” he added.

Another concern that teachers have expressed is how to deal with holding F2F classes while also conducting distance learning for other students.

“Still under discussion, timeframe next school year 2022-2023, this will now be a major policy decision on whether blended learning will be a regular feature of learning delivery even post-COVID,” Malaluan said.

The DepEd is looking at expanding F2F classes to all grade levels by next year, following the expansion to more areas covering more schools recently.


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