Kinontra ng Office of the Vice President (OVP) ang pahayag ni Department of Education (DepEd) Sec. Leonor Briones na hindi otorisado ang inisyatibong Community Learning Hubs ng tanggapan ni Vice President Leni Robredo.
Sa isang statement sinabi ni OVP spokesperson Atty. Barry Gutierrez na may koordinasyon sa DepEd ang naturang programa ng tanggapan. Katunayan, mismong si Sec. Briones pa raw ang pumuri sa inisyatibo.
“The Community Learning Hubs initiative was coordinated with the Department of Education, at both the national and local levels, every step of the way. In official correspondences between OVP and DepEd, Sec. Briones herself mentioned that ‘it is a good initiative,'” ani Gutierrez.
Nanghingi pa raw ang kalihim ng karagdagang detalye para ma-evaluate ang implementasyon ng programa, na siyang natugunan naman ng OVP noong September 8.
“The Office welcomed DepEd’s openness to bring the initiative to more areas and readily provided the details last September 8, mindful that setting politics aside and working together are the keys to ensuring that no learner gets left behind in the midst of the pandemic. Until today, national DepEd did not express any opposition to the initiative, and our Office has in fact been ready for any coordination to scale up the hubs.”
Ayon kay Gutierrez, malinaw nilang sinabi sa DepEd na hindi alternatibong site para sa face-to-face classes ang Community Learning Hubs ng OVP.
Ang layunin lang daw kasi ng pasilidad ay makapagbigay ng serbisyo sa mga estudyante na walang kagamitan para sa ipinatupad na blended learning, tulad ng internet connection at tutorial support. Hindi rin umano sila namilit sa mga local government units para makipag-partner sa inisyatibo, tulad ng sa Caloocan City na nagpahayag ng agam-agam sa programa.
“Strict compliance with health protocols is followed in the hubs. There is also proper coordination not just with local DepEd Divisions but also local government units to ensure a safe and effective learning environment.”
Sa kasalukuyan, higit 2,000 kabataan na raw ang natulungan ng 11 aktibong Community Learning Hubs sa Luzon at Visayas.
Ani Gutierrez, bukas ang kanilang learning hubs sa mga opisyal ng DepEd para makita na hindi nako-kompromiso ang mahigpit na health protocols habang nagbibigay serbisyo sa mga nangangailangang estudyante.
“Officials from DepEd are welcome to visit our hubs anytime to see the service being provided, while adhering to strict health protocols.”
