TO FURTHER enhance the capacity of parents to help in their children’s learning, the Department of Education has started setting up parent academies in vararras.

Education Secretary Leonor Briones said these ‘academies’ teach parents how to better guide and monitor their children who have shifted to distance learning.

“Isa itong feature ng ating bagong pamamaraan na lumawak ang papel ng mga magulang. Dahil ang mga bata spend a great deal of time at home at saka kailangan makatulong sila sa pag- monitor. So, may mga parent academies tayo na sini-set up — may urban, may island, may city kung saan talaga tinuturuan ang parents,” Briones said during the Educating our Children in the New Normal Webinar organized by CenSEI in May.

The DepEd chief lauded the efforts of local government units, parents-teachers association, and other stakeholders to support parents and families in the blended learning setup of their children.

Briones acknowledged the different interventions of stakeholders to capacitate guardians of learners.

She mentioned the Nanay-Teacher Enhancement Program initiative in Valenzuela City, which educates parents on approaches to guide their children in studying. In addition, NTEP organizes virtual meetings and Kamustahan group discussions to tackle the difficulties parents face and how they can overcome them.

Similarly, the Parent-Teacher Association in the Cordillera Administrative Region set up a Parents Academy that is open to anyone who is part of the learning process of learners at home.

In Jose Panganiban, Camarines Norte, Parent Group Circles established in Parang Elementary School hep cascade information and instruction to parents. The school also trained parents to ensure their children would become strong readers.

Briones noted that these projects supplement the initiatives of the department in the implementation of Basic Education-Learning Continuity Plan.

“These are the things that we are already doing and encouraging. Itong mga programs na ito are places where they can coach each other and learn from each other,” she said.