DepEd No. 12, s.2020: Adoption of the Basic Education Learning Continuity Plan for School Year 2020-2021 in the Light of the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency

DepEd No. 12, s.2020: Adoption of the Basic Education Learning Continuity Plan for School Year 2020-2021 in the Light of the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency

1. The COVID-19 pandemic poses challenges to various sectors, especially in responding to basic rights. With the physical distancing and community quarantine being among the measures to contain COVID-19, basic education is among the sectors heavily affected as schools and community learning centers are closed for physical 

conduct of classes. 

2. In order to provide clear guidance to all offices, units, schools, and community learning centers (CLCs) of the Department of Education (DepEd), learners and their parents, partners, and stakeholders, the Department developed a Basic Education Learning Continuity Plan (BE-LCP), a package of education interventions that will respond to basic education challenges brought about by COVID-19. In developing the BE-LCP, DepEd engaged internal and external stakeholders for inputs in the design of a learning delivery strategy and operational direction that ensures the health, safety, and well-being of all learners, teachers, and personnel of the Department. 

3. The BE-LCP stands on the following principles: 

a. Protect the health, safety, and well-being of learners, teachers and personnel, 

and prevent the further transmission of COVID-19; 

b. Ensure learning continuity through K-12 curriculum adjustments, alignment 

of learning materials, deployment of multiple learning delivery modalities, provision of corresponding training for teachers and school leaders, and proper orientation of parents or guardians of learners; 

Facilitate the safe return of teaching and non-teaching personnel and learners to workplaces and schools/CLCs, taking into consideration the scenarios projected by the Department of Health (DOH) and the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases in the Philippines (IATF), complemented by other credible sources, and balanced with DepEd's own risk assessments; 

d. Be sensitive to equity considerations and concerns, and endeavor to address 

them the best we can; and 

e. Link and bridge the BE-LCP to DepEd's pivot to quality and into the future of 

education, under the framework of Sulong EduKalidad and Futures Thinking in Education. 

Adoption of the BE-LCP 

4. DepEd hereby adopts the enclosed BE-LCP, including its Annexes, as the overall framework to govern the School Year (SY) 2020-2021, unless sooner repealed, amended, or rescinded. 

Adoption of the Most Essential Learning Competencies (MELCs) 

5. The BE-LCP streamlines the K to 12 Curriculum into the Most Essential Learning Competencies (MELCs), to be delivered in multiple learning modalities and platforms. The MELCs shall be used nationwide by field implementers for SY 2020-2021 only. The streamlining of the K to 12 Curriculum into the MELCs is an emergency measure to allow instruction amid challenging circumstances to focus on the most essential learning, and to ease the requirements for adapting classroom-based learning resource for distance learning.

 

6. DepEd emphasizes that the broader review of the K to 12 curriculum remains ongoing. The experience with MELCs for this school year will be used to inform and enrich the curriculum review. The Curriculum and Instruction Strand is directed to monitor the implementation of the MELCs and evaluate its effectiveness in consultation with the Regional Directors, with regular updates as well as a final report at the end of the school year to be submitted to the Secretary. 

7. At the end of the school year, the Secretary shall convene the Curriculum Consultative Committee as provided in Section 6 of Republic Act No. 10533, or the Enhanced Basic Education Act of 2013, to consider the results of the broader curriculum review and the lessons from the implementation of the MELCs, and recommend to DepEd the necessary refinements in the K to 12 Curriculum. 

Creation of the Learning Resources and Platforms Committee 

8. As part of the mechanisms for readiness for school opening on August 24, 2020, a Learning Resources and Platforms Committee is hereby created to ensure that appropriate learning resources of good quality are made available, and that the necessary platforms or technologies (printed, digital online and offline, television, and radio) are engaged or made available in a timely and efficient manner. 

9. The Learning Resources and Platforms Committee shall have the following composition: 

10. The Committee shall have the following tasks: 

a. Review and consolidate all major operational plans and proposals by internal 

units and external partners for the provision of learning resources and engagement of delivery platforms or technologies under the BE-LCP, for endorsement to the Secretary for final approval; 

b. Harmonize inter-strand positions on various aspects of learning resources and 

delivery platforms to operationalize the BE-LCP, including content, quality assurance, legal, procurement, partnerships, finance, and governance aspects, for endorsement to the Secretary for final approval; and, 

c. Perform such other functions as may be directed by the Secretary for the 

efficient and timely delivery of learning resources and engagement of delivery platforms. 

 

11. The committee may engage the services of external consultants or resource persons to assist in addressing difficult or complex issues and concerns on learning resources and delivery platforms. 

12. The committee shall form a secretariat composed of designated officers and personnel from various units, to provide technical and administrative support in the performance of its tasks. 

13. The Committee is directed to convene for its first meeting within the week of June 22-26, 2020, and immediately report to the Secretary the results of its meeting and its next steps.

No Face-to-face Classes Until Safe 

14. DepEd is one with the President in his non-negotiable commitment for the health and safety of our learners, teachers, and staff. It is the first and most important principleof our BE-LCP. However, the BE-LCP also emphasizes that learning opportunities to our students may be provided through blended distance learning modalities, until any prohibition by the DOH, the IATF, or the President for face-to-face learning in schools/CLCs is lifted or relaxed. \

15. DepEd shall continue to monitor developments in the COVID-19 epidemiological picture and localized COVID-19 situation, to contribute to continuing discussions in the IATF, the Cabinet, or with the President, on the safety of reopening schools/CLCs for face-to-face classes. 

Operationalization of All BE-LCP Components 

16. Policies and guidelines shall be issued as may be necessary for the full operationalization of the different components of the Plan. Research priorities will also be aligned with the BE-LCP for SY 2020-2021. A monitoring and evaluation framework shall be formulated and conducted to assess the progress of implementation and inform succeeding decisions at all governance levels. 

17. All Central Office Strands, Bureaus, Services, and Units, Regional Offices, Schools Division Offices (SDOs), and Schools/CLCs shall adjust and align their plans according to the BE-LCP for SY 2020-2021. 

18. Upon recommendation by SDOs, after consultation with the schools under their respective jurisdictions, the Regional Directors shall decide on the learning delivery modalities deemed appropriate in the context of local conditions and consistent with the COVID-19 guidelines and regulations. The Regional Directors are directed to submit to the Office of the Secretary their contextualized LCP for their respective regions. 

Effectivity 

19. This Order shall take effect immediately upon publication in the DepEd website. 

20. For more information, please contact the Planning Service, 2nd Floor, Alonzo Building, 

Department of Education Central Office, DepEd Complex, Meralco Avenue, Pasig City, through email at ps.od@deped.gov.ph or at telephone number (02) 8687-2744. 

21.  Immediate dissemination of and strict compliance with this Order are directed. 

LEONOR MAGTOLIS BRIONES 

               Secretary