The Educational System in the Philippines before pandemic was eyed to be one of the progressive and

developing in line with the Educational System in the neighboring countries in South East Asia. This was

inferred due to the high percentage of completion rate every year. (https://www.futurelearn.com › future

learn-international)

This auspicious trajectory was swiftly declined when the surge of Covid 19 pandemic terrorized the

whole world. All developed and developing countries were shocked upon its sudden emergence since no

medically identified antidote can suppress the rapid spread of the virus. The developing countries like the

Philippines was totally overwhelmed that it had to impose stern community lockdowns in those areas with

high community transmission. The Department of Education (Deped) issued Department Orders to the

entire archipelago suspending the conduct of in-person classes just to place all learners including the

teachers into safety.

After several months of fighting the pandemic, the Department of Education (DepEd) and Commission on

Higher Education (CHED) adopted and implemented the flexible model of blended learning despite many

oppositions because of the risk to open classes because of the virus. The different learning modalities are

the following: Modular (Printed), Modular (Digitized), Online, Educational TV, Radio-Based Instruction,

Home Schooling and Blended Learning. For the cities where modern living is adapted and students and

learners have the privilege of having internet connection at home, online learning is implemented

especially for the high schools and colleges but for those living in rural areas or provinces where internet

connection is only available for only few, Modular Distance Learning is implemented. Modular Distance

Learning is the use of Modules made by teachers with different tasks and learning activities based from

the essential learning competencies. (G.D. Anzaldo: 2021)

According to Anzaldo (2021) the new normal education along with the different modalities faced

different disapprovals at first because of the risk but with the effort of education sectors in the Philippines

it is done systematically for the goal of continuing education despite the pandemic (page 263).

In the Division of Guihulngan City, Negros Oriental, myriads of schools both in elementary and

secondary had preferred in Printed Modules as their chosen learning modalities because of poor internet

connectivity in the area. The parents were encouraged to pick and return the modules of their respective

children on the prescribe time and in the same manner, teach their child and monitor the progress of their

children as to the accuracy of the answer.

The harmony of parents to their child were tested during this period, since they were the one responsible

of educating their children through the printed modules given by their respective schools. Some parents
were crying for they can no longer sustain the difficulties of mentoring their children and prayed for face-

to face classes.

The researcher’s goal of this study is to showcase the effects of Modular Distance Learning to the

learners. And also determine if there is a significant relationship between this particular learning

modalities to the Learning Ability of the learners under the New Normal Scheme.