The Department of Education (DepEd) on Monday announced the creation an “Error Watch initiative” to correct errors in students’ learning materials.
Undersecretary for Administration Alain Pascua said that this initiative was created in response to numerous reports about errors found in learning materials allegedly released by the DepEd.
During the “Handang Isip, Handa Bukas” online press briefing on Monday, Pascua assailed “critics” of DepEd who are posting the errors discovered in SLMs (self-learning modules) on social media instead of bringing the matter in the proper forum.
He said that those posting the errors are not really trying to help the DepEd but only want to earn many likes on social media.
“The goal of this initiative is to receive and collate reports of errors found in different learning materials (i.e., self-learning modules, other printed materials, DepEd TV, DepEd Commons, DepEd TV YouTube Channel, etc.) and to forward these to the appropriate offices for validation and correction,” Pascua stated in Memorandum 00-1020-0138 that he signed.
Pascua assured that the DepEd Error Watch initiative will make use of three platforms for reporting, which will validate errors for immediate and proper correction:
1. Email – errorwatch@deped.gov.ph
2. Text and Viber – 0961-6805334
3. FB Messenger – DepEd Error Watch (@depederrorwatch)
4. Workchat – DepEd Error Watch https://deped.workplace.com/groups/616392985671470/)
All are advised to use the hashtag #depederrorwatch when submitting reports, he added.
“Dissemination of these details is desired to enable an efficient and proactive system of improving the Department’s learning materials across all modalities,” he said.
Pascua added, “this initiative comes after one week of close monitoring of the opening of schools, talking to teachers and students, and reading feedback on social media. We wish to immediately address these mistakes, with the help of our citizens. Magtulungan po tayo [let’s help each other] rather than bash the agency, the teachers and schools. This is the time for Bayanihan!”
Meanwhile, Undersecretary for Curriculum and Instruction Diosdado San Antinio said that of the 35 errors that were posted and went viral on social media only one item belong to DepEd upon clarification.
Dramatic and Romantic
At Monday’s press briefing, Education Secretary Leonor Magtolis Briones maintained that the opening of classes was a “victory”.
“We have implemented the decision [to open classes on October 5] made by the president [Rodrigo R. Duterte] and we implemented that decision [and] that was a major victory,” Briones said adding, “But I’m not saying it’s perfect.
When we opened [the classes] on October 5, under the mandate of the president is a victory in itself,” she said citing that even there are “vicious noise that is going on from very limited groups.”
Responding to the question of BusinessMirror, Briones revealed that among the challenges that she faced, being the head of the agency a week after the start of the classes, are the “fake news and criticisms” which were posted on social media and have brought damage to the “credibility of the institution” for people can no longer see the real from not.
“Number one challenge na nakita ko [that I saw] is telling the truth , the whole truth. Hindi ‘yung [Not that] the rest is a lie, the rest is manufactured, alam ng karamihan na ito ay manufactured pero kinalat pa din [Most of the people know that this was manufactured yet they still spread it],” she said, this time also referring to the errors in SLMs.
Upon receiving the report, Briones said that she immediately instructed Undersecretary Nepomuceno Malaluan to go to Batangas to check on the situation there on October 6.
Malaluan said that the teachers were just “reenacting” what happened during their training on September 24 when they encountered connectivity problem.
Briones said things like this are “very dramatic, very romantic”.
“Generally, as a whole very successful ang [the] launching. Mabibilang lang daliri ng isang kamay yung may problema [We can just count it using our fingers on one hand]. Over daramatized event na nangyari [ that happened ] – the incident of teachers on the roof,” she added.
She, however stressed, that they recognize the problems being reported to them and that they are addressing it already.
Image credits: Nonoy Lacza