Rappler's latest stories on education in the Philippines
Alliance of Concerned Teachers hits DepEd as 7 million students still unenrolled
'One child left behind is one too many, and the government is duty-bound to ensure each and every Filipino’s exercise of all of their constitutionally guaranteed rights,' says the Alliance of Concerned Teachers

The dream and life a boy left behind
Help finds its way to the family of Ricky Benig, 19, whose death spotlighted how students at the fringes of society struggle with the requirements of distance learning

CHED says schools ready for 'flexible learning' in August
'We are ready to open [classes] this August. No ifs, no buts. Learning must continue. We learn as one, we are ready,' says CHED Chairman Prospero de Vera III

6 PH universities offer free ‘flexible learning’ training for faculty members
CHED Chairperson Prospero de Vera III says the initiative is for 'smaller universities' that have limited capacity to prepare their faculty for the start of classes on August

[OPINION] The Ifugao, cowboys, and assimilation through education
'[T]here are no initiatives yet to properly train teachers in indigenous history and heritage'

EXPLAINER: Handa na bang magbukas ng klase sa Agosto 24 ang Pilipinas?
Tuturuan ang mga estudyante sa pamamagitan ng printed modules, online learning, at mga leksiyon sa TV o radyo. Maraming tutol sa desisyon ng DepEd na ituloy ang school opening.

Over 200,000 students transfer from private to public schools amid pandemic
Education Secretary Leonor Briones attributes the transfer of students to public schools to the economic downturn, with many parents losing their jobs

[PODCAST] Making Space: Are boys' schools ready to embrace co-education?
Are constructing new bathrooms and giving sewing classes enough to welcome girls in high schools that are so used to being all-boys? Rappler explores the topic with La Salle Green Hills and Ateneo Senior High School alumni.

DepEd ramps up online education platform ahead of new school year
The education department is doubling the capacity of DepEd Commons to accommodate at least 17 million users by August 24

Printed materials, online classes 'most preferred' for distance learning – DepEd
The Department of Education says the opening of classes on August 24 is pushing through, despite criticism regarding the government’s readiness for implementing distance learning

DepEd expects 80% enrollment for school year 2020-2021
As of July 1, 16.6 million students in public and private schools have enrolled – just around 59% of the 27.7 million enrollees in 2019

[OPINION] Ang pagbaba mula sa tore ng akademya
'Hindi tuluyang lalaya ang kaisipan ng taumbayan kung nakakubli ang agham sa wikang ginagamit lamang ng iilan'

DepEd opens senior high school voucher program for 2020-2021
The program aims to provide financial assistance for incoming senior high school students in participating private or non-DepEd public senior high schools

[OPINION] On hoarding certificates from online courses and webinars
'The webinar is eroticized by so-called experts as a necessary and legitimate qualification. The certificate becomes the cult-favorite signal of self-improvement.'

After backlash, Briones orders review of distance learning requirements for private schools
This comes after private schools raised concerns over the 'non-negotiable' requirements that, according to them, were finalized without any public consultation

Duterte signs good manners and right conduct law
As a subject, Good Manners and Right Conduct was removed when the K-12 curriculum was implemented in 2013. This was only integrated in other subjects.

DepEd: 40% of public school teachers trained for distance learning
A Department of Education official tells a Senate panel that so far, 300,000 of the country's 800,000 public school teachers have been trained for distance learning, with just two months left before the opening of classes

DepEd urges private schools to defer tuition hike
The Department of Education also says it will meet with private schools next week to discuss their concerns about a department order on 'non-negotiable' distance learning requirements

Lawmaker dares Briones to 'demonstrate' distance learning in poor areas
'DepEd policies for their back-to-school program [are] anti-poor. The education department assumes that all students are capable of teaching themselves at home,' says ACT Teachers Representative France Castro

Private schools to DepEd: Review 'non-negotiable' distance learning requirements
'Where will the private schools get the financial wherewithal to fund the 'non-negotiable' minimum requirements?' asks the Coordinating Council of Private Educational Associations

How to help students in need cope with distance learning
(UPDATED) Here are some of the initiatives

CHED launches web-based platform for free college learning materials
Chairman Prospero de Vera III says CHED will fund the development of content for the learning platform this year

85,000 Makati public school students to get free learning modules, internet load
Makati Mayor Abby Binay says the learner's package and free internet load will benefit all public school students from preschool to senior high school. Teachers will get free internet load as well.

Teachers urge DepEd to extend their work from home setup
According to the Teachers’ Dignity Coalition, requiring teachers to report to schools starting June 22 is 'unnecessary, impractical, and will just place them and other people in a health hazard'
Duterte eyes purchase of radios for students in far-flung areas during pandemic
President Rodrigo Duterte says government will 'try to come up with something' as more funds are needed for the proposed radios

To aid remote registration, DepEd implements ‘drop box system of enrollment’
'Drop box kiosks will only cater to those parents who do not have access to remote means to communicate with their schools but wish to enroll their child,' says DepEd

Briones: 'We don’t accept cash donations'
The Department of Education releases the minimum specifications for the gadgets and internet services to be donated to schools, teachers, and students for distance learning

For distance learning, Nancy Binay advises DepEd to train parents too
'Napakalaki po ng participation ng magulang dito e. Mayroon ho bang separate training ang DepEd para sa mga parents?' Senator Nancy Binay asks

CHED: ‘Limited’ face-to-face classes may be allowed in coronavirus-free areas
'What is prohibited under IATF resolutions is the old or traditional full face-to-face classes in all areas under quarantine,' says CHED Chairman Prospero de Vera III

Tuition fee hike in private schools should be justified – DepEd
Education Secretary Leonor Briones says the decision on a tuition fee increase is 'largely internal' to private schools

Teachers’ group: ‘Distance learning moves education farther from poor children’s reach’
The Alliance for Concerned Teachers is also demanding the Department of Education provide teachers with laptops and P1,500 internet allowance per month for the school year 2020-2021

[OPINYON] Tara, webinar!
Teacher ka? Walang nakatitiyak kung anong uri ng danas ang nakaamba sa atin sa pasukan. Mag-aral, maghanda, para hindi mabulaga.

Distance learning: A looming crisis for students with special needs
While distance learning for basic education students is a challenge, it's even more so for teachers figuring out how best to teach students with disabilities

Sorsogon project brings classes at home to students left out of distance learning
As students struggle to access online classes, Pilar Reading Center helps make education more accessible by giving modular activities and training parents to be teachers at home during the pandemic

Leaving it to LGUs to provide gadgets to students can further digital divide – group
Some local governments are rich, some aren't. A teachers' group says the national government should step in.

Quezon City to provide tablets for 176,000 high school students
A newly-approved local budget for education will also provide internet allowance and gadgets for public school teachers

DepEd: 5 million students register during 1st week of remote enrollment
The initial number of enrollees is less than a fifth of last year's 27.7 million student population in primary and secondary schools

Duterte on DepEd's distance learning: 'I don't know if we're ready'
'Secretary Briones is insisting that there is an alternative there. She has a very good program for that like teleconferencing. The technology is good. I don't know if we are ready for that,' says President Rodrigo Duterte

Bill allowing class opening after August now up for Duterte’s signature
Just like the senators did, representatives unanimously approve on final reading the bill giving the President the power to set the school opening at a later date

DepEd warns public against illegal selling of learning materials online
The Department of Education says all learning materials will be free of charge once they become available

Teachers' group wants class opening delayed to January 2021
The Teachers' Dignity Coalition says delaying the opening of classes would give them more time to prepare for the distance learning approach

[OPINION] In response to Senator Imee Marcos' statement on teachers
'Instead of blaming teachers for not being able to teach soft skills, as Senator Marcos claims, the government could alleviate the issue by investing more in the education system'

DepEd: Students with special needs included in distance learning preps
The Department of Education has 3 months to prepare before the start of distance learning on August 24

Inside the Industry: The future of schooling with Edukasyon.ph
Founder and CEO Henry Motte-Muñoz makes the present less scary for educators

Senators unanimously approve proposal to delay start of classes
(UPDATED) Senate Bill 1541 seeks to give the President the power to set the start of classes later than August during a state of emergency

As remote enrollment begins, Filipinos debate distance learning for students
Filipinos online tackle the pros and cons of enrolling students for the upcoming school year, given the alternative learning methods proposed by the Department of Education

FAST FACTS: DepEd’s distance learning
Rappler takes a look at the distance learning approach of the education department and defines the terms being floated as the school opening nears

[OPINYON] Bakit takot tayong maantala ang pag-aaral?
Hindi natakot maantala sa pag-aaral ang ating mga magulang at lolo’t lola noong World War 2. Ang pandemya ay isang digmaan. Nakataya ang buhay nating lahat. Bakit tayo nagmamadali?

Teacher walks extra mile during pandemic to help students in Sorsogon
Michelle Rubio, a public school teacher in Sorsogon City, says teaching should be more than just providing learning materials to students especially during this time of a health crisis

[OPINION] Safety and material needs first, not just ‘schooling versus learning’
'A tech fix alone does not constitute a solution to the real concerns, worries, and conditions of parents, teachers, and learners'
