Latest news with #E-CAIR
GMA Network
03-07-2025
- Politics
- GMA Network
DepEd: Measures in place to prevent 'learning loss' due to class suspensions
The Department of Education (DepEd) has rolled out a comprehensive set of initiatives designed to make the Philippine education system more "flexible and disaster-ready." This, as DepEd prepares for possible class suspensions amid the rainy season. DepEd Secretary Sonny Angara said that while safety should be a top priority, learning continuity must be part of every suspension decision. Below are key programs and reforms from DepEd: Deployable learning continuity packages Durable and mobile modular classrooms will replace temporary learning spaces in disaster-hit areas. A pilot rollout in high-risk zones is slated for August 2025. LIGTAS AI tool under E-CAIR An AI-powered system that predicts geohazard risks, enabling schools to make better contingency plans. Upgrades to the system are expected by the third quarter of 2025. Revised suspensions as guidelines (Released December 2024) These empower school heads to: Declare localized or granular suspensions even without LGU declarations. Coordinate with LGUs for class suspensions based on real-time conditions such as flooding or earthquakes. Read the official guidelines here. Learning and service continuity plans (LSCPs) All schools are required to have LSCPs, which include: Use of Alternative Delivery Modes (ADMs) like self-learning modules and online platforms. Secure storage protocols for learning materials and devices. Teacher training for quick transitions during disruptions. Omnibus flexible learning policy (Releasing July 15) This new framework institutionalizes flexible learning across grade levels and creates one-stop-shops for schools to access support services, materials, and guidance. Tablet distribution for ADM learners DepEd is actively distributing tablets to learners in disaster-prone areas, enabling continuous learning when physical attendance isn't possible. Stronger LGU engagement The department has issued letters to the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), the Union of Local Authorities of the Philippines (ULAP), and other local leagues to encourage alignment with the new suspension protocols. 'Learning loss' Previously, class suspensions were automatic—like the cancellation of kindergarten classes under Signal No. 1. But under new protocols introduced in December 2024, schools and local governments now have more discretion, allowing suspensions to be tailored to real-time conditions rather than blanket rules. Angara has reminded school officials and local governments to be prudent in declaring class suspensions, emphasizing the department's priority to avoid unnecessary learning gaps. 'We wish to minimize learning loss, so long as ligtas ang mga bata at titser and staff,' Angara told GMA News Online via Viber message. (We wish to minimize learning loss, so long as the safety of students, teachers, and staff is ensured.) 'So sana 'wag basta-basta lang mag-declare ng cancellations sa baba unless talagang hirap na hirap pumasok,' he added. (We hope suspensions won't be declared casually at the ground level unless it's truly difficult for students and staff to attend school.) 'Sa mga kasong ganun, may substitute naman kami,' he noted. (In such cases, we have alternatives in place.) —VAL, GMA Integrated News
GMA Network
10-06-2025
- Politics
- GMA Network
Teachers' group weigh in on tech devices, AI in schools
Are cellphones and artificial intelligence beneficial or detrimental to students' learning? For the Alliance of Concerned Teachers (ACT), the answer depends on how they are used. At a press conference on Tuesday, Alliance of Concerned Teachers (ACT) National Capital Region president Ruby Bernardo acknowledged that cellphones and tablets are already part of daily classroom realities, especially in public schools where traditional learning materials are lacking. 'Sa actual na situation sa classroom, dahil kulang ng learning material... ginagamit ang cellphone, tablet sa ilang references—paggamit ng modules online, PDFs, at iba pa,' said Bernardo. (In the actual classroom situation, because of the lack of learning materials, cellphones and tablets are used as references—accessing online modules, PDFs, and so on.) She explained that teachers and students alike turn to digital devices to access supplemental learning content such as YouTube videos and online modules. 'Ginagawa naming pamamaraan din 'yan para dagdagan… panonood ng DepEd TV at iba pang reference material,' Bernardo said. (We use them as a way to add more resources—like watching DepEd TV and other reference materials.) She said the challenge lies in guiding students on how to use them responsibly. AI as a learning aid AI tools, now increasingly accessible to both students and teachers, can help in tasks like translation and cultural research, according to Bernardo. 'May mga pagkakataon na nakakatulong din talaga siya… halimbawa in terms of research sa kultura,' she said. (There are times when it's really helpful—for example, in cultural research.) Incoming ACT party-list Representative Antonio Tinio echoed this perspective, stating that AI is already being explored in universities and colleges. Instead of banning its use, institutions are trying to understand how it can enhance the delivery of education. 'Tinitingnan natin paano talaga siya makakatulong sa mga estudyante in further learning and advancement sa knowledge production,' Tinio said. (We're looking at how it can really help students in further learning and advancing knowledge production.) 'Ang hamon ngayon ay paano magagamit ang AI bilang pantulong sa pagtuturo at pagkatuto ng mga estudyante,'' he said. (The challenge now is how to use AI as a support for teaching and student learning.) 'Kailangang matuto ang mga estudyanteng Pilipino na gumamit nito… sa paraan na hindi magiging sagabal sa learning o pagtuturo,' he added. (Filipino students must learn to use it in a way that does not hinder their learning or teaching.) Bernardo emphasized that the key is not to discourage the technology but to find ways to incorporate it into lesson plans that promote critical thinking and genuine understanding. The Department of Education (DepEd) said that there are now existing programs to train teachers on how to effectively and ethically integrate AI tools into their teaching methods. 'We have the E-CAIR, developing policies, and we launched Khanmigo for schools, which has AI, last December,' Education Secretary Sonny Angara told GMA News Online in a Viber message. Launched in February, the Education Center for AI Research (E-CAIR) aims to revitalize basic education by developing AI-driven tools that enhance teaching, learning, and school administration. Khanmigo, meanwhile, is an AI-powered teaching and learning assistant. Developed by Khan Academy, the AI tool is free to all teachers and learners nationwide. —VBL, GMA Integrated News
