BY NOEL TALACAY
THE Department of Education (DepEd) yesterday inked a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) with the Presidential Communications Operations Office (PCOO) and the Philippine Cable and Telecommunications Association (PCTA) for its DepEd TV program for school year 2020-21.
Education Secretary Leonor Briones said the agreement paves the way for the department’s access to television and cable for their distance learning program, which has become the “new normal” in education as an alternative to the traditional face-to-face classes amid the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic.
The PCOO and the PCTA, according to Briones, will be the agency’s partners in the DepEd TV program.
“No disaster, tragedy, and catastrophe would hinder the learning of the students in the country. At present, in this time of pandemic, DepEd is committed to continue the learning of every Filipino student because they deserve it,” Briones said.
Briones stressed the importance of television and radio as learning modalities, noting that they will serve as the learning channel for students who do not have access to internet and those who cannot afford to purchase gadgets such as mobile phones, laptops and tablets.
She assured the public that lessons to be broadcasted over television and radio will have good quality.
In a statement, PCTA expressed gratitude at the DepEd for picking them as the department’s television cable partner in delivering the new normal of education.
The PCTA has been tapped to assist and support DepEd in its implementation of the blended learning approach by coordinating the implementation with its member operators, disseminate information on the mechanics of blended learning, for members to provide one access channel for free remind as a public service feature of the CATV system, and assist concerned central, regional or schools division offices of the DepEd and the member operators of PCTA to enter into their respective agreements.
