House bill 174 and teacher’s morale

Those opposing the bill also made points to back their view. They mentioned the effect of the bill on teacher’s morale. Peggy Hoy believes House Bill 174 was not different from the polarization education laws sponsored by the previous state superintendent Tom Luna. It also included immense restrictions on negotiation and was rejected. In her words, House Bill 174 is a “Dangerous Piece” of legislation.
Sen. Dave Lent also lent his voice by tagging the Home Bill 174 as a “Last Straw.” He believes Idaho’s educational sector has been politicized, and people are trying to play politics and score points, courtesy of the educational mess created by the Covid-19 pandemic.

Integration of sex education to existing subjects

The Chairman for the Commission on Higher Education, Prospero De Vera informed today that the agency is willing to approve the integration of sex education on the course subjects offered in college. According to De Vera, integration of sex education in existing course subjects in college will be a lot easier and efficient as compared to implementing a new course subject specially intended for sex education. Senate Bill 1334 or commonly known as the Prevention of Adolescent Pregnancy Act of 2020, states that comprehensive learning about sex education should be introduced to students at the college level.
For De Vera, integrating sex education to existing course subjects is the only way to push through with Senate Bill 1334. It will be difficult to insert a new course subject that will tackle solely about sex education as the college curriculum already have a fixed number of units to be followed.

What are the contents

On the proposed Senate Bill endorsed by Senator Risa Hontiveros, sexual education topics must dwell in removing the idea of talking about sexual information as being taboo. It aims to normalize the conversation about sexuality, prevention from sexually transmitted diseases, the use of contraceptives, teenage pregnancy, sexual violence, and gender equality.
Passing the Bill will be a huge step towards controlling the rapid rise of teenage pregnancy in the Philippines.
 

Arguably the most popular television frequency

The ABS-CBN Channel is arguably the most popular television frequency in the Philippines. Just recently, this massive media company have been declined by the Congress to renew its franchise and continue broadcasting in Philippine airwaves.
The network is one of the most or probably the most popular television channel in the country. After the denial of its franchise renewal, Camarines Sur Representative Luis “Lray” Villafuerte suggested the use of the popular television frequency to relay distance learning lessons as schools reopen in August.
However, the decision will be up to the Department of Education (DepEd) and the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC). DepEd Secretary Leonor Briones has yet to comment on the proposal.
Palace spokesperson Harry Roque noted that the power to decide on what to do with television frequencies in the country relies on the NTC.

It will be for the NTC and DepEd to decide on whether to maximize the availability of the popular TV channel to deliver distance learning or not.

Blended Learning

The Department of Education came up with the blended learning program to deliver continuous learning to students despite the restrictions caused by the pandemic. Blended learning is a mix of distance learning and physical learning, which is highly dependent on the location of the schools involved.
In the Philippines, President Rodrigo Duterte stands firm in the decision of not conducting physical classes, not until a vaccine is discovered.
However, several regions and municipalities with minimal to zero transmission of COVID-19 are being pushed to be allowed face-to-face classes but with additional precautions applied.

Enrollment turnout in the PH

The current enrollment turnout in the Philippines stands at 70 percent. This is equivalent to 19.5 million students out of the 27.7 million enrollees from last year.
This is a close value to the rough estimate of 80 percent enrollment turnout by the Department of Education. This is despite the enrollment process being conducted remotely. The department expects an increase in enrollment turnout as teachers slowly report physically at school and accept physical enrollment.
But, for the activist group Alliance of Concerned Teachers, headed by Raymond Basilio, the effort isn’t just enough. The enrollment turnout is not acceptable for them. He even quoted:

One child left is one too many.

For Basilio, the government must send students to school since it is their constitutional right as Filipinos.
Yet, for the Department of Education Secretary Leonor Briones, compromising one school year will create a ripple of negative effects towards Philippine education. They are still finding more options for students to attend classes for the school year 2020-2021.
Criticisms are acceptable, as long as helpful suggestions accompany such criticisms. Activist groups in the Philippines criticizes the DepEd’s way of handling the education system in the country but fails to provide efficient alternatives. What they usually suggest is freezing of classes and postponing the reopening of classes.

Financial issues

Due to COVID-19, several households suffered significant financial losses. This is one of the reasons critics are pointing out that it may contribute to the depletion of enrollees for the next school year.
The DepEd pointed out that Public schools are offering free tuition ever since. If online learning is not possible, there are two other options offered by DepEd, printed out learning modules and access through mass media.
The DepEd is asking for the parent’s coordination in helping their children cope up with the distance learning measures. Since teachers won’t be available to guide students physically, parents should be willing to step up and guide their children with their bring home learning modules and ensure they stay tuned to television or radio schedules of the student’s lessons.
In a pandemic, we should look after each other and not bring others down. If we can contribute in any way we can, we must not hesitate. After all, parents should realize, it is for the welfare of their children, it is not for someone else.

Physical classes are out of the picture

The Philippine President Rodrigo Roa Duterte issued earlier a statement about his objection on the opening of classes as long as no vaccine for COVID-19 is available. But Palace spokesperson Harry Roque clarified that the President is referring to physical classes alone.
Monday, President Duterte’s announcement stirred up the public since the DepEd already released a statement regarding the opening of classes on August 24. The president’s statement is just a reminder that physical classes will not be an option as long as no vaccine is available. Despite the minimal cases of COVID-19 in certain regions in the Philippines, normal classroom setups won’t be a real option.
According to Roque, the health of the students and teachers is a priority for now. If there are means not to resort to physical interaction, then DepEd should stick with it, or else do not open schools at all.

Opening of classes by August

The Department of Education already made an official announcement regarding the opening of classes by August 24. With the threat of COVID-19 still around, the department is considering a full distance learning program, lessons will be delivered through the internet, radio stations, and television channels when school resumes.
The government also suggested the creation of “make-shift classrooms” in far-flung barangays where the internet is hard to access. Students can access lessons via radio stations or television channels in these “make-shift classrooms”. Since it will be barangay based, the number of students will be minimal and social distancing can be properly observed.
The DepEd also procured tablets to be used by students, laptops, and desktop computers for the teachers, to be used for distance learning. The department is already on the implementing stage of their Learning Continuity Plan (LCP).
 
Featured image by GOV.ph

Need for more coronavirus testing

The research was prompted by a survey conducted by the Nature Investigation on 9th April that found out that university labs having regulatory approval were operating at half their potential capacity. The Nature Investigation survey showed thousand of tests were unused and sitting in labs unutilized.
With ideas of reopening the economies being floated by the White House and some states starting to relax lockdown regulations, experts agree more tests are needed. They have warned that reopening the economy without enough test would result in a much worse second wave of coronavirus spread in the US.
Shared living facilities, nursing homes, and homeless shelters have reported a lack of tests and the spread of coronavirus.

Data on researchers about US testing potential

Out of 4,086 researchers surveyed, only 130 researchers were carrying out coronavirus tests. A further 1,600 indicated they had all the tools required to run the tests but were not running the tests.
The breakdown of the data showed that 3.2 percent of these researchers were conducting coronavirus tests, 39 percent had the ability for coronavirus testing but were not testing and 57.8 percent of the respondents indicated their labs had no capacity to test for coronavirus.
When these researchers, both those testing and those who could be testing, were asked what problems they were encountering while testing, they responded by saying they needed more resources such as reagents and funding. 95 percent of those not testing but have the ability to test indicated they were being hindered by the complex protocols involved in testing.
The US has over 800,000 coronavirus cases and 45,343 fatalities due to coronavirus. The country has already outlined a path on how they will reopen the country and state governors have already started reopening some parts of the economy.
 
Featured image by Pixabay

Board consideration of the at-home SAT tests

He said the Board was aware of these concerns and was looking into digital SAT tests. This will alleviate the problem colleges are anticipating to face during admissions due to disruptions by the coronavirus. Coleman, however, characterized the situation where the school will be on lockdown during the exam period as unlikely. The measures the Board had taken was to ensure that they will be able to administer the tests in a worst-case scenario.
The College Board officials said they were looking at ways to implement the at-home SAT tests securely. They indicated they were looking at solutions such as software that would lock other computer functionalities during the test. Camera and Microphone control of students’ computers to minimize their chances of cheating was also floated as a way to handle cheating in the exams.

Worst-case scenarios

Coleman stated that should they may be forced to administer the at-home SAT tests due to unavoidable circumstances. They were prepared to work with states and school districts to bridge the digital gap. They said they will be able to set up Wi-Fi hotspots in schools to allow students to have access to the internet.
The Board also stated they will wait for health officials’ advice on whether it will be safe to implement weekend SAT exams in schools starting from August. They also urged students to start applying for exams from may which scheduled to take place starting from August till the end of the year. The priority will be given to students who are likely to graduate in 2021 but do not have their SAT results yet.
 
Featured image by Pixabay

Private and public schools in the Philippines

The Department of Education was recently informed by the actions planned by several private schools in providing the final grade of its students affected by the school closures. Ateneo de Manila University (ADMU) plans to mass promote all its students to the next level, except for its graduating classes. This mass promotion lets every student pass their current grade level on equal grounds, despite the achievements made during the school year, and it also includes those under probation.
Meanwhile, Education Secretary Leonor Briones, clarified that public schools in the Philippines have their own policies to follow and mass promotions are not part of it. If the extended enhanced quarantine extends furthermore, compromising more time in the school calendar, the department will have to mandate teachers to calculate students’ final grades based on the grades and assessments available until before the school closures.
In several cases where the student’s final grade is not enough for him/her to pass his/her current grade level, remedial exams or projects can be issued online, as to practice social distancing and respect to the community quarantine in effect. Public schools in the Philippines will follow these guidelines as mandated by the Department of Education.

DepEd being haunted by the COVID-19 outbreak

As of posting, the Department of Health Philippines recorded the following number of COVID-19 cases: 4076 total confirmed cases (206 new cases as of today), 124 total recoveries (28 new recoveries as of today), and 203 total deaths (21 new deaths as of today).
The Department of Education is one of the working agencies of the government that is doing its best to help fight off the spread of the coronavirus in the country. Apparently, as of today, Education Secretary Leonor Briones, announced to the public that her second test for COVID-19 came out positive.

Source image by Department of Education Philippines Facebook page
The secretary will undergo preventive self-quarantine and will continue to work and attend cabinet meetings online. Briones reaffirms the public that she is doing fine, and she is in close monitoring. The DepEd community is praying for the secretary’s health and wellness.
 

Student loans repayment suspension

The Department said it would consider those who had defaulted their federal loans for suspension and the directive would take effect immediately. They also backdated the timeline when this new law would come to effect, placing it on March 13th.
This directive will also affect involuntary loan repayment efforts such as administrative wage garnishments, social security offset and federal tax returns. This means that the deductions for repayments of these loans would stop immediately.

What the directive entails

The department was very clear that the directive was only meant for student loans held by the government. They indicated that loans from guarantee agencies and colleges would not be suspended and individuals would continue paying these loans. This was because the federal government had no control over these entities and therefore, could not intercede to make them suspend the loans.
The department, however, did not make it clear whether the federal tax refund seized before March 13th due to student loans would be refunded. They also did not indicate if wage garnishment from the same period would be considered.

Relief legislation passed

Legislators also passed a relief to business funding that would help people in economic distress to surviving this crisis. The $2 trillion funding was agreed by the senate and has since been voted for that will guarantee every American a stipend per month until the lockdown is lifted.
Coronavirus has spread to all states in the US and infected more than 68000 citizens, with 1032 succumbing to the virus. It is unclear when some states which have implemented lockdown will lift it and how long the crisis will last. The move by the Department of Education is a silver lining on a dark cloud that has engulfed the US.
 
Featured image by Zimbio

Assessment waivers to be processed in 24 hours after application

The education department reassured that applications for assessment waivers will be approved in one business day following the filing of the waiver request form.
The decision follows other measures by the Education Department to cater to the hard times following the announcement that all the states had recorded coronavirus cases.
The department had earlier on waived 95 percent state participation as mandated by the Every Student Succeeds Act. The move sought to address chronic truancy as a result of the coronavirus outbreak.
For the elementary students, the Education Department will not enforce standard testing requirements, a statement from President Trump.
The department said that it is conducting talks with states to look into more flexible solutions in conjunction with Congress on the matter of assessment waivers.

Congress seeks to add more powers to the Education Secretary

Congress seeks to add more powers to DeVos to give the Education secretary more powers to waive the states K-12 requirements for education under the Education Act.
Both Devos supporters and detractors are keeping a close watch on her policies for implementation and the potential changes to U.S. public schools. This is considered difficult due to the skeletal nature of the Trump administration’s budget and policy proposals.
Additionally, the Department of Education has no direct supervision of the nation’s 100,000 public schools. States have some oversight, but most individual municipalities are the legal entities responsible for running schools and for providing the large majority of funding through local tax dollars.
Congress has the ability to write statute and distribute funds. If, for example, it releases funds as formula grants, which are distributed to all states on the same basis, it can ensure universal adoption of programs.
 
Featured image credits: Bing