By Bernardo B. Ver II (Contributor)
LAOAG CITY—The Sangguniang Panlalawigan’s Committee on Education, chaired by Atty. Saul Paulo Lazo, conducted a hearing on the possible “new modes of learning” for students and pupils in the Ilocos Norte.
During the hearing Ilocos Norte officials discussed the respective observations and plans of the different municipalities and cities of the province on the adaptation of the “new normal” in education.
Mr. Lazo disclosed the plans of the provincial government with the help of Sen. Ma. Imelda Josefa “Imee” R. Marcos which include mapping or identification of wi-fi-enabled areas as well as schools; methods of blended learning (modular, virtual and radiofrequency); allocating funds to support the said cause; and tapping barangay officials as helping tools in the grassroots.
In mapping wi-fi-enabled areas, Rhona Ysabel Daoang, head of the provincial government’s Communications and Media Office (CMO), said that “The different local government units (LGUs) need to identify their location if the internet connections are weak, moderate or strong and they will report it to the Provincial Education Department.”
For blended learning, the provincial government is formulating different solutions including modular, virtual, and radiofrequency.
For the modular mode, the teachers may upload materials on the internet and the students will download them; students, in turn will also upload their school works with the teachers downloading them for grading.
Face-to-face learning is also on the list but health officials are not advising them and is still subject for further studies.
Mr. Lazo added that they can also utilize Information Hubs (iHubs) in the different municipalities of the province as “upload-download” areas.
Officials, however reported that some desktops at the iHubs are no longer serviceable; so, as an alternative, the committee suggested that they may convert internet cafes as “upload-download” areas, especially for the modular mode of learning.
Meanwhile, the provincial government will also allocate PHP25 million from the special education fund (SEF) to purchase gadgets—laptops or desktops for teachers-- help them with their learning materials in virtual teaching.
The provincial government has also asked the Dept. of Education to do the same and give laptops to their teachers.
The SP committee also urged local government units to allocate similar funding as counterpart to help teachers and students in their towns and cities.