THE GOVERNMENT has expanded the use of the Special Education Fund to further assist schools in the implementation of distance learning.

The Department of Education, Department of the Interior and Local Government and Department of Budget released a Joint Circular widening the use of the SEF this school year.

Under the circular, SEF can now be tapped for the production of self-learning modules, textbooks, activity sheets, and study guides or manuals approved and quality-assured by the DepEd. The purchase of external storage devices such as flash drives, hard drives, and communication expenses will also be covered.

Education Secretary Leonor Briones thanked the DILG and DBM “for heeding our call to support education amidst the pandemic.”

“This Joint Circular is a significant step in our efforts to ensure that learning opportunities will still be available despite the situation,” Briones said.

“Through the widened use of the Special Education Fund, our field offices, alongside our very supportive LGU officials, can be more flexible in assisting our teachers, learners, and even our parents in the distance learning set-up,” she explained.

The circular also allows local government units or school division offices to purchase computers, laptops, tablets, printers, scanners, television, and radio peripherals to assist their learners if necessary.

The procurement of personal protective equipment and medical needs such as facemasks, face shields, hand gloves, surgical caps, hats, eye goggles, thermal scanners, vaccines, vitamins and minerals, hand sanitizers, alcohol, and disinfectants will also be covered by the SEF.

The fund can also be used for the rollout of programs for mental and psychosocial services for learners, teachers and non-teaching personnel.

Previously, the SEF could only be used for the operation and maintenance of public schools; construction and repair of school buildings, facilities, and equipment; educational development and research; and sports enhancement.