More than half a year after the lockdown began in the Philippines, the school year finally began on Oct. 5. However, Pasuk schoolchildren cannot attend school, as youngsters under 15 still have to remain in quarantine. Therefore, over 22 million children throughout the country are home schooled. Blended learning system
The Philippine Department of Education, together with 47,000 "public schools," has developed a blended learning system. This new system offers home schooling. Children who have access to good Internet can take lessons through a live connection. In some places, lessons are broadcast through local radio and television stations. For children who do not have access to good Internet, homework modules are available. In these, lessons and assignments are printed and prepared by teachers. Each week, parents pick up a new homework packet at school. In their homes, the children work through the pile of assignments. Their teachers can be reached for questions via chat programs. Difficult
This new form of homeschooling puts a lot of pressure on families. A great deal of discipline is required of students. Most parents find it incredibly difficult to supervise their children because they are busy earning a living and/or have little education themselves. Some parents cannot show up for work until late because they have to help their children with homework first. Support
The Pasuk team visits the families every week to encourage the children and their parents and pray with them. This way we keep our finger on the pulse and the families experience that they are not alone. At the beginning of the school year, all Pasuk students received their school packet. This year's package includes notebooks, notepads, pens, colored pencils, felt-tip pens, scissors and paper. Also a plastic briefcase and an umbrella, so parents can transport homework dry and well between school and home. Normally, the children come to the Pasuk project every week. But because of the ongoing quarantine, they cannot come now. It is our desire to help the children with their school work at the Pasuk project. In our computer lab, they would be able to take their online classes and also do homework. However, this is not possible until first the quarantine is lifted and our schoolchildren are finally allowed to leave their homes. Prayer Request
Whatever happens, we put our trust in the Lord God. Will you join us in praying for the children and their families? That God will sustain them during this challenging time. That the home quarantine for the children will be lifted so that we may welcome them back to the Pasuk project. Thank you so much for your compassion and prayers.
Photos
View photos below of Pasuk students doing their schoolwork at home.
From our project director
Read the update below from Pasuk project director Russel Villafuerte:
Russel Villafuerte
Cebu City, October 31, 2020
Dear sponsors of Pasuk Foundation,
Warm greetings to all of you there in the Netherlands!
We would like to give you an update of the present situation and the challenges we are facing in the midst of this pandemic. Especially on the Covid19 restrictions and the education or schooling of our dear Pasuk scholars.
Our Church, Cebu Bible Church, is always grateful to the love and concern you have shown and given to us. Our partnership with Pasuk Foundation is really a wonderful blessing to our community. The heaviness and difficulty of Covid19 lock downs and restrictions becomes bearable because of the financial support we have continuously received from you. The food packs and the school supplies have lightened the burden in each family of our dear Pasuk scholars.
Although the Covid19 curve has flattened here, our local government welcomed the decision of President Rodrigo Duterte to place the capital city under the modified general community quarantine (MGCQ) for another month.
Our President Duterte announced that the "rest of the country" would be placed under MGCQ. Including Cebu city and Cebu province as a whole.
"After a month of being under less stringent quarantine measures, I am glad to say that Cebu City was able to keep virus transmission down," Cebu City Mayor Edgardo Labella said in a statement posted on his official social media page.
He said he issued Executive Order (EO) 94 "reiterating the guidelines for residents, workers, businesses, public transportation, government facilities, and other establishments" under the downgraded quarantine status.
The EO prohibits residents from roaming around except when reporting for work or buying necessities.
Labella said "only one member of the household is allowed to go out" in accessing essential goods and services and should always carry the quarantine pass issued by the city government.
Residents who are below 21 years old and 60 years old and above as well as those with immunodeficiency and comorbidity are required to remain in their homes, he said.
The EO also listed down "negative activities" which are not allowed due to the impossibility of avoiding mass gathering and imposing physical distancing. These are: holding of traditional cockfighting and cockpit operation, holding of concerts, and operation of beer-houses and amusement parks.
Meanwhile, the city allowed religious services, work conferences, and sporting events but with a 50-percent limit in attendance.
"The virus is still in our midst. This is not the time to let our guard down. We carry on with the policies that have kept us safe: going out only for essential activities, wearing a mask and face shield, observing physical distancing, and regularly washing or sanitizing hands," Labella said.
The mayor attributed the flattening of the curve in the city to the cooperation of the residents, especially in religiously following the minimum health and safety protocols.
Education Secretary Leonor Briones claimed government's win over the Covid19 pandemic as over 22 million students from public schools return to school thru modular and blended way of schooling, despite the outcry of teachers and parents facing multiple challenges.
The Department of Education officially opened academic year 2020-2021 for 47,000 public schools nationwide through blended learning after it rejected appeals for an academic freeze or postponement of school opening.
Classes were supposed to open in early June but the start was pushed back twice to October 5 following appeals from teachers, students, parents, and several school officials. However, concerns persist on the safety and accessibility of the new modes of learning. Slow internet connection and lack of gadgets hamper the learning of some children. Because of those issues, some parents chose modular learning, but teachers are burdened with the distribution of printed material not to mention the dangers of Covid19 infection when they go out to communities.
"Today we celebrate a great victory, we declare our victory over Covid19.... We will not allow Covid19 to destroy our children's education and their future," Briones said during DepEd's online event.
She said education cannot be postponed despite the raging Covid19 crisis. She urged critics to stop the debates on DepEd's decision. "There are crisis and constant challenges. Even if it's hard, we need to do it. We cannot wait any longer. We need to resume classes even if there are challenges." Briones said.
In an interview with CNN Philippines on Monday, Education Undersecretary Tonisito Umali likewise lauded the opening of the school year. "It was an excellent first day of classes." Umali said.
Umali also recognized the challenges still existing for students, including the lack of stable internet connection and the late arrival of learning modules. He said 207 TV channels and 162 radio stations nationwide have partnered with school division offices to air the modules.
He also said the department has issued guidelines for teachers in the grading and assessment of students, as well as a guide for parents helping with their children's lessons.
The parents and guardians of our scholars really find it hard to help their school children in studying and answering their modules. They have to leave some of their household chores just to spend time assisting their kids on modules. Working parents and guardians often experience being late in coming to their workplace because of helping our scholar in their modules.
Once again we are extending our gratitude to all the sponsors and donors of PASUK Foundation for generously giving their regular support.
We also thank Sir Martijn Ros - founder and chairman of Pasuk Foundation - for his wonderful leadership. We also extend our thanks to our sister church in Apeldoorn, Filadelfia, for praying for us.
To God be all the glory!
Praying with you all,
Pastor Russel Villafuerte Pasuk Project Director, Cebu Bible Church
