Students participating in physical classes are learning better, surveys shows

A survey conducted by the Movement for Safe, Equitable, Quality and Relevant Education showed that students who participated in face-to-face classes are learning better than when they were taught in blended learning.

The survey was held to assess the implementation of limited face-to-face classes in 63 out of  the 13,692 basic education schools nationwide.

The survey, which ran from March 1 to 31, 2022 showed that 86 percent to 96 percent said that students were learning better compared in distance learning modalities.

Survey findings also showed that government funding and support were not enough, which revealed 59 percent to 83 percent of teacher-respondents to spend their own money to prepare classroom for school reopening.

The survey found that efforts for the implementation of limited in-classroom learning were school-dependent. This put into play the initiative and resourcefulness of teachers.

“There was an apparent lack of a systematic assessment to gauge and understand the extent and nature of the learning loss that was brought about by one and a half to two years of school closure, as well as an over-all guide on how to tackle the current education crisis,” SEQuRe Education Movement said in a statement.

“As such, while the country succeeded in resuming in-classroom instruction for about one-tenth of learners, there is a great need for ample government funding and a more evidence-based and comprehensive plan to expand safe school reopening and ensure that education effectively recovers from the crisis,” the group added.