Sustaining the learning of students continue to be the top priority of the Department of Education (DepEd) despite the current pandemic. In line with this, the Philippine Forum for Quality Basic Education (EducForum) has been vigorously participating in the crafting the ‘Learning Continuity Plan’ (LCP) to ensure that students will continue to receive schooling. The said LCP explores on the various learning modalities that will serve as an alternative to the traditional face-to-face classroom set-up of teacher and students, while also being responsive to the needs and capacities of students. Moreover, it also looks into the methods that schools may use to revamp the curriculum, augment the grading methods, upskill and equip teaching staff, as well as provide for the communication tools which could be used by department personnel, teachers, learners, and even “household partners” during this paradigm shift.
The members of the EducForum were divided into 5 sub-groups with different responsibilities: (1) Data Analytics; (2) Learning Strategies and Modalities; (3) Capacity of Teachers and School Learners, (4) Operational Plan; and (5) Bridging Short, Medium, and Long Term for SulongEdukalidad.
Sub-group 1 shall be responsible for putting together and analyzing data and information that will be relevant in assessing the capacity of the basic education system, and the appropriate targeting of learners, teachers, and school leaders, for the continuing delivery of learning in the context of the constraints and opportunities presented by COVID-19.
Sub-group 2 shall be responsible for identifying feasible and practical learning strategies and modalities in the context of COVID-19.
Furthermore, Sub-group 3 shall be responsible for assessing and identifying critical and timely intervention for capacitating teachers and school leaders in managing and facilitating learning through various learning modalities and learning resources.
Sub-group 4 shall be responsible for identifying the operational plan and needs at various governance levels to implement the LCP.
Lastly, Sub-group 5 will provide the bridging and integration of the short term response with the medium and longer term education agenda for accessible quality education, within the framework of Sulong EduKalidad.
ECOP actively partakes in each sub-group with ECOP Advocacy Assistant Jhoyzel Nacisvalencia as ECOP representative in Sub-group 1, ECOP Governor Anton Ll. Sayo in Sub-group 2; ECOP Advocacy Manager Abigail Gorospe in Sub-group 3; ECOP Director-General Jose Roland A. Moya in Sub-group 4; and ECOP Advocacy Assistant Neil Don Orillaneda in Sub-group 5. As of writing, the EducForum is still finalizing the LCP.
The Forum, a coalition for quality education, is composed of DepEd and education partners including civil society organizations, education sector organizations, private organizations and foundations, bilateral agencies, and multilateral organizations.
