By Dean Aubrey Caratiquet
Aligned with the administration’s thrust towards making education more inclusive and accessible to the youth, the Department of Education (DepEd) continues to expand its partnerships with other institutions to enable learning that knows no boundaries.
This, as the agency welcomed the ceremonial signing of a Memorandum of Agreement with the Philippine Children’s Medical Center (PCMC) on Monday, which kicked-off the introduction of a hospital-based learning program for children who are hospitalized or unable to attend regular classes due to their illness.
Education Secretary Sonny Angara and PCMC Executive Director Dr. Cecilia Gan, along with other officials, were present during the event that launched a first-of-its-kind initiative in the country for out-of-school youth.
The program will employ an alternative learning system (ALS) which facilitates teaching through modular learning, bedside instruction, and blended learning or online classes, depending on the child’s condition and treatment schedule.
It will also include a basic literacy program, as well as an accreditation and equivalency system for elementary and high school students.
As of press time, the program involves four volunteer teachers and 35 pediatric patients undergoing cancer treatment or dialysis, with DepEd eyeing further expansion in collaboration with other institutions down the line.
Among the schools involved in the pilot phase were Pinyahan Elementary School, Flora A. Ylagan High School, and San Francisco High School in Quezon City.
For its part, the PCMC said that it is open to accepting more teachers willing to offer educational services through this program. (with report from JM Thompson | PTV News)
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