OPPO, Save the Children Philippines Provides Support to Public School Students for Online Distance Learning

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OPPO, in partnership with international children’s organization Save the Children Philippines, has recently completed the turnover of 100 brand new sets of OPPO A12e smartphones, Rock Space Torch Bluetooth Earphones, and special online learning kits to select students from public schools in Navotas City, namely Tanza Elementary School, Tanza National High School, Bagumbayan Elementary School, and Navotas National High School.

Save the Children Philippines’ turnover of donations to the recipients in Navotas City.

Parents attended to claim the A12e smartphones, Rock Space Torch Bluetooth Earphones, and online learning kits.

 

 Filipinos on Online Distance Learning

Securing better access to online distance learning is challenging, especially for those who have lesser means to provide for themselves. This is a common concern among the parents and students of Teacher Claudine of Tanza Elementary School, a Special Education (SpEd) teacher with six years of experience. 

“Nagka-virtual orientation kami ngayon kung paano mangyayari ang modular learning…You really have to do everything and explore all means. Hindi ito normal na may problema lang, may pandemya kasi,” Teacher Claudine shared. “Sa SpEd [students] kasi they need immediate feedback. Kailangan din nila ng individualized na approach. Pero ang parents hindi sila trained to do that. Kung hindi ganoon ka-strong ang foundation and follow-up sa bahay, magiging malaki ang regression.” she added.

Teacher Claudine’s students were some of the selected recipients of the OPPO A12e smartphones and Rock Space Torch Bluetooth Earphones for online distance learning which are useful tools in helping the SpEd students to get the attention and support needed while doing online classes.

Another true experience was shared by Nanay Rosalinda and her daughter Filchriz, who has been diagnosed with Global Developmental Delay. Filchriz is one of the recipients of the OPPO A12e and online learning kit including pencils, pens, crayons for her art classes. “Hindi man niya masabi na miss niya ang school, minsan kapag pinalabas siya dumidiretso [sa daan] papunta sa school,” said Nanay Rosalinda. At home, she mentioned that they do not have a table for Filchriz to study while doing the online classes but the family is doing their best to provide what they could for her to continue classes despite the pandemic situation.

Aside from the smartphone and Bluetooth earphone donations, OPPO and Save the Children also set up a fundraising initiative through the Back-To-School campaign, which started last August. The effort resulted in funds to purchase more online learning kits for other students in need. Each learning kit includes art materials and basic safety and sanitation kits, like alcohol and face masks, for the kids.

“With the joint efforts of OPPO, Save the Children Philippines, and the kind-hearted Filipinos who have participated in this fundraising initiative, we were able to extend help to students most in need of support. We are optimistic that together we can do more for everyone if we continue to band together and lend a helping hand to each other as we overcome these trying times,” OPPO Philippines Marketing Director Raymond Xia.

To learn more about the latest news and programs of OPPO, visit the official website at www.oppo.com/ph or via official Facebook page at OPPO Philippines.

 

A look into education’s new normal : DepEd shares insights on the first weeks of classes

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Various industries in the Philippines are already on their slow but steady path to recovery and that includes the education sector. Despite the compromises and major changes made in the educational system to navigate through the now normal, the Department of Education (DepEd) has successfully opened classes for SY 2020-2021. 

“DepEd recognizes the challenges of the school year ahead, but if we opted for an academic freeze, we would have lost many months of the childrens’ learning,” said DepEd Secretary Leonor Magtolis Briones. “The opening of the school year has generally been very successful, and we will continue to face any challenge that lies ahead with great resolve to continue education in the country.” 

For the first few weeks of classes, the Department has been focusing on the proper implementation of the alternative learning delivery modalities and providing the necessary psychosocial support for the academic community. 

Learning in the new normal 

Following the DepEd’s successful implementation of the different learning modalities across the country, Regional Offices (ROs) are working hard to continuously provide students with learning materials. 

With the vision of making education accessible to every student in the country, DepEd reports that 690,578,576 Self Learning Modules (SLM) have already been printed. Distribution of the said learning materials has also been successful, with 465,225,636 SLMs being distributed to students nationwide for the first quarter of the school year. 

Learning materials for Online Distance Learning students have already been prepared in time for the first quarter of the academic year, with 3,841,474 digitized SLMs, e-books, online video lessons, and the like ready for rollout. 

The DepEd also shared that 7,740 Radio-based instruction (RBI) learning materials are ready for roll out across all regions in the country. These materials include teaching scripts and learning episodes, which will help educate and engage with students in far-flung areas. Currently, DepEd has partnerships with 309 radio stations all over the Philippines. 

Meantime, preparations for Television-based learning have also been successful. The Department reports that 9,207 Television-based instruction (TBI) learning materials like video lessons and learning episodes have been prepared for students in all 17 regions in the country. A total of 259 television channels are partaking in TBI, making education more accessible and easier to consume this school year. 

Recently, DepEd also announced the DepEd Error Watch initiative. The goal of this initiative is to receive and collate reports of errors found in different learning materials so that the DepEd can forward these to the appropriate offices for validation and correction. The initiative allows the Department to be more open to public feedback in order to further improve the learning experience of every student in the country. 

Parents and students can use various platforms such as email (errorwatch@deped.gov.ph), Facebook messenger (@depederrorwatch), and text message (0961-680-5334) to report any discrepancies, and are also encouraged to use the hashtag #depederrorwatch when submitting reports. 

Training has also been conducted nationwide to help equip teachers and parents for the changes that are bound to happen this school year. The Department has trained 804,272 teachers, and they have also reached out to 14,944,593 parents in all 13 regions. In total, 45,321 schools have helped the Department in conducting seminars to educate both teachers and parents. 

Putting emphasis on mental health 

The mental health of the academic community also continues to be one of DepEd’s top priorities for this school year. Prior to the opening of classes, DepEd trained teachers to provide support to students who may be struggling to cope with education’ new normal. 

The Mental Health and Psychosocial Support Services (MHPSS) program gives learners the necessary support they needed during the first week of remote learning. Likewise, DepEd’s stakeholders also enjoy wellness checks to also help them cope with working at such a peculiar time. 

DepEd also issued the Parents’ Handbook for the New Normal in Basic Education to serve as a guide for SY 2020-2021. The handbook helps parents further understand the alternative learning modalities and provides information on where parents can seek help should they encounter difficulties in understanding the learning modules. Practical tips for parents of learners with disabilities and positive parenting and discipline tips when facilitating home learning are also included in the handbook. Parents can secure a copy of the handbook by downloading it online. 

“The millions of learners who are doing their best to learn despite the pandemic are truly inspiring and encouraging,” said Secretary Briones. “The Department remains steadfast in its commitment to provide all learners with the quality education they deserve, and we will continue to work hand in hand with our stakeholders to continue education for Filipinos across the country amid these trying times.” 

About the Department of Education 

The Department of Education (DepEd) formulates, implements, and coordinates policies, plans, programs and projects in the areas of formal and non-formal basic education. It supervises all elementary and secondary education institutions, including alternative learning systems, both public and private; and provides for the establishment and maintenance of a complete, adequate, and integrated system of basic education relevant to the goals of national development.