DEPED TEST 4+1 BLENDED LEARNING MODEL IN CARAGA TO BUILD A DISASTER-RESILIENT EDUCATION SYSTEM
/ 9 November 2025
THE DEPARTMENT of Education has launched a new “4+1” blended learning model in the Caraga Region, marking a shift toward a more flexible and decentralized approach to teaching. This initiative aims to strengthen the country’s education system against disruptions caused by natural disasters and other emergencies.
Under the 4+1 model, students attend in-person classes for four days a week and spend one day engaged in home-based learning. According to DepEd, the pilot program is part of its broader strategy to promote localized innovations and ensure continuity of learning regardless of external challenges.
Education Undersecretary for Strategic Management Dr. Ronald U. Mendoza explained that the approach directly addresses the Philippines’ vulnerability to climate-related disruptions that often halt classroom instruction and contribute to learning loss.
“We want to empower our regions and divisions to develop and test their own innovations,” Mendoza said during the Philippine Economic Society Annual Conference on Friday. “Caraga offers an ideal testing ground for this hybrid setup because it allows us to experiment on a manageable scale.”
Mendoza added that insights from the Caraga pilot will guide DepEd’s ongoing digital transformation and future policy directions for blended learning nationwide.
The initiative also complements DepEd’s Public-Private Partnership (PPP) for Connectivity and ICT Infrastructure Program, which seeks to expand internet access and provide schools with the necessary digital tools to support flexible learning environments.
Ensuring Learning Continuity During Crises
Designed with resilience in mind, the 4+1 model provides a structured system that keeps learning ongoing even when schools are closed due to typhoons or other emergencies.
“Our aim is to prove, through evidence, that students in the 4+1 setup can achieve the same quality of learning as those in traditional settings,” Mendoza noted.
To support the pilot, DepEd has distributed 5,000 tablets in Butuan City to aid students during home-based learning days. This initiative is aligned with the agency’s digitalization efforts and larger connectivity projects under its PPP program.
According to Mendoza, these combined efforts will enable schools to tailor learning modes based on local needs, giving both teachers and students greater flexibility.
“Even if an area is flooded, as long as students are safe and capable of studying, learning doesn’t have to stop,” he emphasized.
DepEd plans to evaluate the results of the Caraga pilot in the coming months before considering its expansion to other regions across the country.
