Nop ES/Alabel 3/Division of Sarangani/Region XII/DepEd-Philippines

SY 2020-2021

School ID # 208017

SCHOOL POLICY INNOVATION

ON

MODULAR DISTANCE LEARNING/LIMITED ONLINE LEARNING THROUGH MESSENGER DUE TO COVID-19 GLOBAL PANDEMIC THAT AFFECTS THE FACE TO FACE CLASSROOM INSTRUCTION

Legal Basis: *RA 9155 – Governance of Basic Education Act

*DO No. 011, s. 2020

*DO No. 042, s. 2016

*DO No. 012, s. 2020

*DO No. 007, s. 2020

*MELCs

Sec. 7. Powers, Duties, and Functions (RA 9155)

E. School Level

Consistent with the national educational policies, plans, and standards, the school heads shall have the authority, accountability and responsibility for the following:

1. Setting the mission, vision, goals, and objectives of the school.

2. Creating an environment within the school that is conducive to teaching and learning.

3. Implementing the school curriculum and being accountable for higher learning outcomes.

4. Developing the school education program and school improvement plan.

5. Offering educational programs, projects and services which provide equitable opportunities for all learners in the community.

6. Introducing new and innovative modes of instruction to achieve higher learning outcomes.

7-12.

A. INTRODUCTION.

As stated, in Our Overall Goal, that We aim to sustain the delivery of quality, accessible, relevant and liberating basic education services for all school – age youngsters in the midst of covid – 19 emergency via flexible learning options. Thus, Nop Elementary School teachers and agreed by the parents together with the strong support of the community leaders, we have decided and chosen the Modular Distance Learning (MDL)/Limited online through messenger as our modality in delivering the basic education of the school – age children in our school this school year 2020 – 2021.

With the outbreak of covid-19 deadly disease that has greatly affected nations worldwide, including the Philippines , and has caused and continuing to cause loss of lives and disruption of the education system, our His Excellency, President Rodrigo Roa Duterte, immediately signed last March 23, 2020 the RA 11469, An Act Declaring the Existence of a National Emergency Arising from the Corona Virus Disease 2019 (Covid-19) Situation and a Policy in Connection Therewith, and Authorizing the President of the Republic of the Philippines for a Limited Period and Subject to Restrictions, To Exercise Powers Necessary and Proper to carry out the Declared National Policy and for Other Purposes. Consistent with his authority, some of the big cities in the northern part of the country were under the community quarantine and lock down in order to control the movement of the people from one place to another so that the transmission will not come to worse extent. Later on, the government initiated a special committee known as, the Inter-Agency Task Force on Emerging Infectious Disease (IATF-EID) to manage the task on how to contain the spread of Covid – 19, SARS-2.

However, after several months passed, the virus reached nationwide until now. The effort made by the government to fight against the pandemic, seems that the curve has bent a little, but not yet flattened, instead, the number of infected individuals continue to rise and this driven the taskforce to craft series of recommendations to the President asking his authority to extend work from home arrangements, practice skeleton workforce in offices or workplaces, strictly observe health protocols like; social or physical distancing, wearing of face masks in public places, constant hand washing, avoid crowded places, and the best way to stay safe is stay at home.

Finally, in the provision of learning opportunities, the health and safety of our learners and teaching and non-teaching personnel are of utmost importance and must be protected at all times and we reiterated, since face to face instruction is not possible at this trying times, so, MDL/Limited online learning for those pupils having their own gadgets and can afford to pay load for internet connection are the learning approaches we are going to apply in our school this school year 2020-2021.

B. PROPOSED SOLUTIONS (OPTIONS)

Modular Distance Learning (MDL)/Limited Online Learning

Our school will adapt class program for MDL/Limited Online Learning for selected pupils that can be on week-long or per-day target accomplishment of modules whichever is convenient and beneficial for the learners. As learners are working on their modules at home, it should be clear with the learners that there is still a schedule for the accomplishment tasks per subject, as per advised by the DepEd- SOCCSKSARGEN Regional Education Curriculum experts.

(Note: Sample Teacher Classroom Program in MDL/Online, refer to the Implementation Guide v1.0 Learning Delivery Modalities- Prepared by the DepEd-SOCCSKSARGEN Region).

Individual Teaching Load

The teaching load has to reflect the teacher’s daily schedule for modular learning/Online of few number of pupils and other activities such as teaching, monitoring of learning progress, preparing learning activities, giving feedback, communicating and doing follow-ups, and other teaching-related activities.

For K to 3, “ one class, one teacher” rule is suggested. In our school, since we are a monograde classes so, it is also suggested that we will follow the “one class, one teacher” rule in the higher grades.

(Note: A sample individual teacher loading is referred to the Implementation Guide v1.0 Learning Delivery Modalities-Prepared by DepEd-SOCCSKSARGEN Region)

Orientation with Learners, Families and Communities on the Learning Modalities

The school has to strategize how to orient and train the learners and their families on the Learning Delivery Modalities they preferred in light of the guidelines issued on health protocols in this time of COVID-19. It is suggested to have a face-to-face orientation and training when allowed by DOH, IATF and local government units. Health and social distancing protocols shall strictly be observed to ensure the health and safety of all.

When the situation does not permit the conduct of the activity in this manner other alternative options shall be explored such as online videoconferencing, radio announcement, community-based public address or “rekurida”, magazines, primers and/or brochures.

The training and orientation activity shall cover the following topics:

a. Information about the school and its services

b. Requirements for the modality

c. Class program

d. Communication method and arrangement

e. Monitoring of learning activities and progress

f. Accomplishment of learning tasks and assignments

g. Submission of outputs

h. Assessment (formative, summative, quarterly and portfolio assessments)

i. Mechanism for giving feedback and follow-up

j. Provision and access to learning resources

k. How to use the Self-Learning Modules, LAS, video lessons and learning activity sheets

l. Support to learners and families

m. Data Privacy Act: How to ensure protection and safety of learners and families’ information and privacy

Setting Up the Class

The teachers have to gather the complete details of learners’ residential addresses and names of family members that can act as parent-teachers and their contact information, and the name and contact information of a person in the community that can be contacted in case the family does not have any communication means.

The teachers must have a complete list of learners and contact details of every class they are handling. For the modular learners as the face-to-face meeting is not allowed, teachers may use of public address or “rekurida” strategy where they go to communities and to do the orientation through a sound system. All possible means of communications, like, home visitations when possible should be maximized to connect with the learners and parents.(Source: DepEd-SOCCSKSARGEN-Region)

Homeroom Activities

As provided in DO 7, s. 2020, “School Calendar and Activities for School Year 2020-2021”, the school should conduct homeroom activities that include health and psychological activities particularly psychological first aide for learners, discussion on the characteristics and effects of the pandemic, orientation on precautionary and preventive measures such as water, sanitation and hygiene, and other topics related to COVID-19 pandemic on August 17, 2020, as advised again by the DepEd-SOCCSKSARGEN Region, Education Curriculum experts.

Provision of Learning Resources to Learners

Each learner should be given a printed copy of the Self-Learning Modules (SLMs) and Learning Activity Sheets (LASs) in all his/her subjects for free together with all the available textbooks, big books, story books and other learning resources in schools before the opening of classes. As per advised by the DepEd-SOCCSKSARGEN Region, Education Curriculum experts, the school may opt to give learners the number of SLMs and LASs needed for one (1) week, two (2) weeks, or one (1) month depending on what the school thinks is better to do.

Assessment in the new normal of education

The learning outcomes in the form of knowledge, skills, attitudes, and values will be assessed. Learners shall prepare their portfolio to include written works, and performances (and products), in hardcopy. The portfolio content will be assessed using rubrics that capture the evidence of learning. Testimonies of parents and other adults may be administered in the assessment.

Where face-to-face learning is possible and blended learning is possible, summative tests will be administered in school. For learners who are on distance learning, summative tests may be administered when physical classes shall be allowed in their respective areas.

National examinations are a necessary part of quality assurance, and provide important feedback on the system’s performance as regards curricular reforms, professional development of teachers and educational leaders, provision of financial resources and learning materials, and student’s learning outcome. Thus, the administration of national examination shall continue amidst COVID-19.

DepEd shall issue specific guidelines on assessments taking into consideration the physical limitations imposed by COVID-19 ( DepEd-SOCCSKSARGEN REGION/Source: DO No. 012, s. 2020)

Monitoring of Learning Progress, and Giving Feedback and Intervention

Teachers need to keep track of the learning progress of learners. Significant information on learning experiences, both milestones and difficulties, should be properly monitored and recorded. This information is necessary to guide the teachers what appropriate feedback and intervention should be given to learners.

For this learning modality implemented in our school there should be a tracking mechanism for learning progress. The following information shall be properly captured and recorded by every teacher:

1. Target SLMs/LAS to be accomplished daily / weekly: Subject area SLMs/LAS and Module Number

2. SLMs and parts of the SLMs/LAS accomplished at the end of the week

3. Learners’ record of performances or scores in every assessment in the SLMs/LAS, portfolio assessment and other assessment activities

4. Specific difficulties encountered by learners in accomplishing the SLMs/LAS and other learning tasks

5. Date of submission of accomplished SLMs/LAS and outputs

6. Reason/s for the delayed submission of accomplished SLMs/LAS, outputs and learning portfolios

7. Record of SLMs/LAS, learning portfolios or tasks not accomplished or submitted

Based on the information gathered on learner’s performance, the teacher should promptly give feedback and guidance to learners and parents. When there is difficulty understanding the concept or doing the task, the teacher should provide specific intervention such as, but not limited to, home visitation and tutorial, additional learning activity, and provision of additional learning resources. The use of Learning Activity Sheets (LASs) shall be maximized to deepen concept understanding and acquisition of knowledge and skills. Enrichment activities or additional challenging tasks can be given by the teachers to fast learners. (Source: DepEd-SOCCSKSARGEN Education Curriculum experts)

Strategies to Address Issues and Concerns in the Implementation of this Learning Delivery Modality

The next table presents the different issues and concerns that may cropped up in the implementation of this modality and the strategies that can be employed to address them. There can be other issues and concerns that may have not been captured, but the basic principle we live to deal on these issues and concerns is that “For every problem there is a solution”, and eventually, collectively as a team we can work things out and find the best solution to every problem.

Strategy/Responsibility

Since Modular Distance Learning (MDL)/Limited Online through messenger are the learning delivery approaches we are going to apply in our school this present school year 2020-2021. In the absence of face to face instruction which is the normal teaching practice that we used to do in the previous years, hence, we move to the new approach in order to address the present need in the delivery of education to our learners. Herein, is the matrix that we will follow as a guide in our reporting to work, based on DepEd Order No. 011, s. 2020 – Revised Guidelines on Alternative Work Arrangements in the Department of Education during the Period of State of National Emergency due to Covid – 19 Pandemic.

Three-Day Physically Reporting Workweek and Three-Day WFH on Weekly Shifting or Rotation of Work – it is a system of rotation of work that will ensure reduced person-to-person contact and exposure, and observance of a period of home quarantine and self-monitoring following physical reporting to work, and easier contact tracing if any personnel is infected or suspected to be infected.

The Weekly Shifting or Rotation Work

In this type of alternative work arrangement, heads of offices and school / CLC heads shall observe the following parameters:

1) A system of rotation shall be established such that an individual shall be in contact and exposed only to a specific person or group of persons;

2) Switching of rotation shall only be allowed under exceptional circumstances, such as but not limited to health, safety, or other compelling personal reasons;

3) The workforce is divided into three batches. The number of personnel physically reporting to work for each batch shall not exceed 50% of the total workforce;

4) Batches A/B shall physically report to work for three (3) days except batch C. After physically reporting to work, the personnel shall be required to be on home quarantine for a period of 10 calendar days while reporting on a WFH basis during workdays;

5) Personnel shall be allowed to resume physical reporting to office or school / CLC only when there is no manifestation of any COVID-related or COVID-like symptoms; and

6) For personnel physically reporting to the office / CLC, the workday may consist of six (6) hours on-site at the workstation and two (2) hours on WFH arrangement. This is to allow sufficient time for travel given the Imposition of curfew hours, limited access to transportation, and other regulatory limitations on the inter-zonal or cross-border travel.

Besides, of the health protocols to observe and follow, for the safety of all personnel, the teachers are required to prepare their Weekly Lesson Log or Weekly Lesson Plan a week before the weeks long learning of the pupils and at the same time provide the needed Self-Learning Module (SLM)/LAS based on the Most Essential Learning Competencies (MELCs) for each learner before it will be delivered to the designated places or areas where the learners, parents or community leaders can pick up their own copy to be used in their studies at the given weeks.

C. EVALUATION OF OPTIONS.

At the end of every month, quarter, semester, and school year; the teacher is expected to submit the following:

1. Monthly result of the individual accomplishment report, activities with picture/s and deliverables.

2. Quarterly report containing pupils’ quarterly performance.

3. Mid-year teacher IPCRF

4. All required year-end reports.

D. CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATION.

The need to apply and implement the Modular Distance Learning Modality (MDL) and some few online through messenger in our school is no longer an option but a necessity in this time of COVID-19 pandemic. Considering, the present situation of our school and community that limited internet connection available, almost all the learners having no tools or gadgets can be used in online learning, and most of the families live in the area having no electricity, so the other modalities such as Radio-based Instruction and Blended Learning are not yet applicable in our school at this time.

Well, this School Policy Innovation is being used and applied only in this time of pandemic to continue the teaching-learning activities between the teachers and learners despite the threat of covid-19 virus.

I also recommend that the teachers should wear Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) while reporting to work, always observe standard health protocols and keep in touch with health experts and all the governing authorities, besides, our DepEd officials who directly give us advises in the field, so that any health information, news, and advisories pertaining to our work would be immediately received and disseminated to the field where the learners are located for their continued safety.

And for additional recommendation relative to the implementation of this School Policy Innovation in line with the continues delivery of education using the MDL approach and limited online through messenger for our learners shall also be done at the end of the school year after analyzing the results of the pupils’ academic performance and the teachers’ individual accomplishment.

Signatories