The Philippine education system is covered with formal and non-formal education. Formal education is a development of academic instruction from elementary (grade school) to secondary (high school) and tertiary levels (TVET and higher education). It describes the levels of educational qualifications and sets the standards for qualification outcomes. It is a quality assured national system for the development, recognition and award of qualifications based on standards of knowledge, skills and values acquired in different ways and methods by learners and workers educated/trained in the Philippines.
However, extraordinary challenges affect the system of educational sectors due to the present COVID-19 pandemic. Various plans and procedures are implemented to continuously deliver quality education. To sustain and provide quality education despite lockdown and community quarantine in the educational context, the distance learning approaches are taken into consideration in the planning and implementation of the new normal educational policy. The Department of Education needs to respond to the negative effect of school closure and learning loss during the Coronavirus (COVID-19) as it could have a long-term negative impact on the current cohort of school children. It could affect the children’s economic potential and productivity in adulthood like undermining the country’s competitiveness.
Despite this issue, the Department is still determined to focus on school policies that will note the importance of current schooling and learning situations and proposes options to prepare for in-person schooling as possible as they can. The creation of new programs, interventions, and innovations on how to include safety and health protocol while delivering learning to all students are strengthened. Schools at levels are mandated to address major concerns in the school setting and carefully evaluate plans and procedures on the implementation of the new normal.
By: Analiza G. Taguinod | Teacher III | Cataning Elementary School
