DepEd finalizing guidelines for July 24 learning camp —spokesperson

The Department of Education (DepEd) is finalizing the guidelines for the start of a National Learning Camp on July 24, DepEd spokesperson Michael Poa said Friday.

“We are hoping to release those guidelines as soon as possible,” Poa sad in an interview on Dobol B TV.

The National Learning Camp is a part of DepEd’s national learning recovery program that aims to help the students catch up with the learning losses during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic where schools are closed down.

This camp features intervention, enrichment, and remediation, he added.

“Alam natin coming out of the pandemya meron tayong mga learning losses, learning gaps. Ang kaibahan po nito [sa summer classes], hindi lang ito para sa mga bumabagsak o para sa mga mababa ang grades. Lahat po ay inaanyayahan natin na mag-participate dito sa ating learning camp,” Poa said.

Voluntary

The DepEd official emphasized that the National Learning Camp is voluntary for students and teachers as well.

While it is voluntary, Poa said students who have low grades are highly encouraged to participate as this might affect their promotion to the next grade level.

For teachers who will volunteer in the program, Poa said they will be given additional leave credits. These leave credits will be counted even if their service credit is limited to 15 days.

“May rule ang DepEd way back in 2003 na may limit na hanggang 15 days lang ang puwedeng maipon na service credits ng ating mga guro. Ito pong ibibigay natin sa learning camp is over and above ‘yung limit na yon. So hindi po sila masasakop nung limitasyon na 15 days,” he said.

Apart from this, Poa said the DepEd is eyeing to give free meals for teachers who will volunteer in the said camp.

'Mass promotion'

In the same interview, Poa said the DePed has no policy on alleged mass promotion of students.

“Wala ho talagang ganyang policy sa DepEd. There’s no issuance that even allows mass promotion. But we do understand na sa field maaring nangyayari ‘yung ganyan and that’s why that is something that we are looking into in terms of ano ba yung mga rason,” he said.

One of the things that they are looking at is how this “mass promotion” is tied to the teachers’ performance rating, he said. 

“[We are checking if] ito ay tied sa, let’s say, performance rating ng mga teachers kaya nagkakaroon ng kultura na pinopromote na lang nila kasi kung hindi nila i-promote ay magkakaproblema ang kanilang performance rating. And these are things that we want to revise,” he said.

Poa said “mass promotion” is detrimental to the learners. —KBK, GMA Integrated News