THE DEPARTMENT of Education is optimistic that blended learning will work despite various public concerns.

During a Cabinet meeting presided by President Rodrigo Duterte on July 31, Education Secretary Leonor Briones assured they are more than ready to implement full blended learning when classes resume on August 24.

Briones bared that the DepEd has been conducting blended learning dry runs in districts and regions across the country.

“Nagkaroon na ng dry runs at simulations sa mga district using the different approaches. 345 na districts and regions ang nakapag-dry-run. Praktisado na namin kung ano ang itsura kung radio, kung TV, ano’ng mangyayari kung online platform, ano’ng mangyayari kung modular. Subukan din namin ito sa isang IP community sa Mindanao,” said Briones.

Based on DepEd’s report, 31% have enrolled in private schools and 92% in public schools. This is from the 22.4 million learners registered both in public and private school as of July 30.

With the increase in number of enrollees in public and private schools, Briones reiterated that blended learning is possible.

“Ang kagandahan, nag-increase ang number of enrollees sa private sector. Na-achieve namin ang target enrollment na goal natin,” Briones said.

Briones also assured that different alternatives under the blended learning approach will address parents and students’ concerns on access to learning.

“We can use gadgets, we can use modules, we can also use TV and radio,” Briones added.

Briones agreed to move face-to-face classes to 2021 with very strict health protocols after Duterte stressed that there will be no implementation of residential learning until a vaccine is available.