The Department of Education (DepEd) in Eastern Visayas is seeking help from village officials in the enforcement of physical distancing during the weekly distribution of self-learning modules in schools.

DepEd Regional Director Ramir Uytico assured the public that the system of distribution of printed learning materials would improve next week as they strive to implement health safety protocols.

“We are concerned that there might be coronavirus transmission during the distribution since the distance of some parents in queuing is below one meter. Our principals have been planning on what to do next since the distribution and retrieval is weekly,” he said in a phone interview on Wednesday.

Uytico has asked principals to coordinate with local government officials to help monitor the compliance of queuing parents to minimum health standards.

“Our teachers are busy preparing and distributing learning materials and it’s hard for them to enforce health protocols. Our appeal to parents is to cooperate,” Uytico told the Philippine News Agency.

Uytico also asked school heads to think of ways to reduce interaction between parents and teachers in the distribution of printed learning materials.

On Monday, thousands of parents in Eastern Visayas flocked to schools to get self-learning modules for their children, signaling the start of the new academic year under the new normal education.

The region has recorded 1.78 million enrollments in public and private elementary and secondary schools as of Tuesday morning, representing 92 percent of the total number of learners registered before the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic. Enrollment will continue until October 15, according to Uytico.

“Our children’s education must continue, hence, we are relentless in putting up seamless measures to ensure continuity of basic education in the region despite our limitations,” Uytico added.

The integration of self-learning modules (SLMs) with the alternative learning delivery modalities will help the department ensure that all learners have access to quality basic education for this school year with face-to-face classes still prohibited due to the public health situation.

Modules are delivered in printed format to schools that are located in coastal areas, far-flung provinces, and communities without access to the internet or electricity.

For households with gadgets and devices, the department has announced that SLMs can also be accessed online or offline. (PNA)