10/04/2024
NEWS UPDATE | SJNHS to shift learning modality amid heat index peak
Due to extreme heat, San Jose National High School (SJNHS) has shifted face-to-face classes into blended learning delivery mode for the month of April 2024.
In relation to the memo last February 28, 2023 Implementation of Alternative Delivery Mode in all public Elementary and Secondary schools, the Office of the Principal has issued the School Memorandum No. 85, s. 2024, SJNHS states that the school will implement a blended learning modality for this month.
This sudden change in modality has gathered multiple reactions from both students and teachers of the said school, stating both the benefits and downsides of the aforementioned alternative learning.
"There is nothing new about the modalities. We have done this before. The only change that happened was the integration of modular distance learning (MDL) to the face-to-face (F2F) learning modality in response to the increasing heat index in our locality," said a teacher from Grade 10 STE.
"The new class schedule will be both beneficial and challenging to students, parents, and teachers. It is beneficial because it lessens the exposure of students and teachers to high classroom temperature that hinders the conduct of a good-quality learning-teaching process. However, challenges due to adaptation to this new kind of class scheme, preparation of learning materials by the teachers for the MDL, and completion of the given tasks by the students are unavoidable," he added.
"A new learning modality for the month of April would be beneficial if health is our concern. Iba talaga ang init ng April and May since summer ito sa ating weather conditions. Moreover, continuing education differently is the best answer for this. Sana lang, students will make this learning modality work on their end โ pag-aralan at gawin ang mga naibigay na activities. Ang nakikita ko lang na issue would be the time teachers will settle every day with their classes kung face-to-face lalo na yung magkaiba ang shift like me na may STE. Week 2 ko for STE, face-to-face ng Thursday and Friday then second shift Wednesday to Friday. Magkaiba ng oras halos [at] buong araw din akong nasa school," Irene Panague, a Grade 10 teacher also shared.
However, students and some teachers expressed opposite comments, saying that shifting face-to-face classes for a blended learning modality is a huge challenge for them especially graduating students.
"Mahirap. One month na lang yung time para mag-discuss tapos 2 - 3 days pa every week. Tapos may times pa na matatamaan yung schedule ng subjects na walang schedule sa loob ng days na may face-to-face classes, paano nalang sila makakapag-discuss? Tapos may catch up friday pa, prelims, at NCLA. Sobrang hirap lalo na sa part naming mga magm-move up," one student said.
Learners also raised the issue of self-study during this time and how hard time management and schedule adjustment can be for multiple students.
Meanwhile, STE Grade 9 Adviser Jean Bardon expressed disagreement with the sudden change in modality, stating the struggles that both students and teachers might encounter along the way.
"Personally ayaw ko sana ng ganyang modality wherein merong MDL [modular] kasi based on my experience before during pandemic time, hindi gumagawa ang bata ng outputs nila dahil hindi nila masyadong maintindihan ang instructions at nahihirapan silang intindihin ang lesson by themselves which causes delay or late submissions of outputs," she said.
ADJUSTED SCHEDULES
San Jose National High School (SJNHS) changed the schedules of their learners, freeing their students from the high heat index peaks from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.
There will be 40 minutes per learning area with blended modality having a scheme of weekly switching of three days of modular classes and two days of face-to-face classes to two days of modular classes and three days of in-person classes.
For the morning shift, classes will run from 6 a.m. to 10:15 a.m. while the last shift will run from 2 p.m. to 6:15 p.m. Midshift Grades 7 and 9 will be transferred to the first shift while midshift Grades 8 and 10 will be scheduled in third shift.
Science Technology and Engineering (STE) classes from all grade levels will have the same schedule from 7:20 a.m. to 10:55 a.m. However, subjects beyond 10:55 a.m. will be adjusted to online classes.
Meanwhile, Senior High School (SHS) will have a schedule of 50 minutes per learning area, running Grade 11 classes from 6 a.m. to 10:45 a.m. and Grade 12 classes from 3 p.m. to 6:50 p.m.
The school also pointed out that the lack of minutes per learning area must be included in the asynchronous activities.
The changes of schedule will take effect tomorrow, April 11, 2024.
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Article | Klarisa Mae Orellana
Pubmat | Lymuel Cristoz Peralta
