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Nacion, Mary Rose D. - Critical Analysis
Nacion, Mary Rose D. - Critical Analysis
A Critical Analysis
Submitted to Dr. Ersyl T. Biray
In Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Course
System Analysis in Education
June 2022
Aklan State University
College of Teachers Education-Graduate School
Banga, Aklan
I. INTRODUCTION
The advent of the pandemic during the last month of 2019 and its surge on the first quarter
of 2020 in the country, has caused several private sectors and government departments, along with
its normal operation, to halt. The Education sector was among those that was hit hard, given the
ultimate nature of virus that it spreads through contact. The Department of Education, being one
of the organizations that relies on face-to-face instruction for learning delivery, has suddenly halted
normal operations and was forced to closure just to mitigate the virus. It has introduced several
distance learning modalities as part of its Basic Education Learning Continuity Plan. These
modalities include modular learning, online learning, TV- based instruction, Radio- based
The schools in the District of Libacao adapted the modular learning modality (print) which
utilizes Self- Learning Modules prescribed and issued by the Department of Education. This was
the most feasible modality to be implemented in the district since most schools do not have the
access to internet with others situated in geographically- isolated areas with no means of
The use of self- learning modules has posed several challenges and difficulties, not only on the
part of the learners but also on the teachers and parents, in general. As the school year progressed
Aklan State University
College of Teachers Education-Graduate School
Banga, Aklan
upon its pilot implementation, problems such as “erroneous content”, “difficult activities”, “too
many assessments”, “inappropriate lessons” and “incomprehensible” surfaced online. While there
are those that were resolved through editing and contextualizing by teachers, still there are non-
curriculum related challenges that is evident such as “hassles of distribution and retrieval”,
“limited printing resources” and “unanswered modules that were returned”, which needs to be
addressed and that can only be resolved by the reintroduction of the face-to-face instruction.
The lifting of the stringent alert levels by the Inter- Agency Task Force prompted the
Department of Education to slowly return the schools to its normal operation. In DepEd Order No.
17 series of 2022, it released guidelines on the progressive expansion of classes and the schools
were made to prepare for the face-to-face instruction and as its guide, DepEd Memorandum No.
30, series of 2022 issued the School Safety Assessment Tool (SSAT), a tool to assess the readiness
of the schools to participate in the progressive expansion of the face- to- face learning modality. It
is composed of several indicators divided into four categories: Managing School Operations,
Focusing on Teaching and Learning, Well- Being and Protection and School- Community
physical readiness; while teaching and learning focuses on indicators that involves pedagogical
practices; well- being and protection have indicators that promotes the health standards to be
upheld during the conduct of the face to face classes; while school- community coordination
The SSAT is similar to a survey questionnaire wherein school heads will check the Yes or
No for each indicator depending on the availability or presence of that indicator in the schools. It
may look like it’s easy based on the manner of its accomplishment but the preparations of Mode
of Verifications were the source of problems among heads and teachers. Based on the outputs
presented by several schools who were brave enough to do the pilot opening, preparations of the
folders as well as preparing the physical facilities of the school and the teaching- learning process
These challenges led to the conceptualization of this analysis. The researcher wanted to
critically analyze the tool based on its content, necessity, timeliness, practicality, and beneficiality.
This will also involve identification of the challenges and difficulties in the accomplishment of
each indicator and the strategies employed by the school just to meet with the demands.
Thesis Statement
2. What is the characteristics and significance of the tool when analyzed based on:
a. content
3. What are the difficulties perceived by the school in accomplishing the SSAT?
II. SUMMARY
The focus of this critical analysis is to explore the characteristics and significance of the
school safety assessment tool in terms of its content, necessity and timeliness, practicality and
beneficiality. The content focuses on the examination of the contents of the tool, it relevance and
redundancies. The necessity and timeliness assess the timing of issuance of the tool in comparison
to the DepEd timelines and activities and the practicality and beneficiality discusses the positive
Truth be told, there is really no perfect tool to gauge the needs of the school because the
schools are unique and different in some ways and providing them with a uniform tool will only
eradicate the randomness of the variables and factors present in school that may hasten or hinder
This paper will only serve as a constructive critiquing to the tool that is essential to the
opening of the schools for its learners in the new normal. The gathered feedbacks of the teachers
used in this study were reflected to provide a concrete evidences to the claims and the identities
were withheld for confidentiality. Similarly, the analysis inscribed herein does not solely reflect
Aklan State University
College of Teachers Education-Graduate School
Banga, Aklan
the views and opinions of the schools in the District but is only the opinions of the researcher based
III. ANALYSIS
The preparation of the progressive expansion of the face-to-face learning modality has been
a tedious and exhausting job for the schools. Prior to the release of the Deped Order No. 17 series
of 2021, schools were trying to slowly get the hang of modular learning by investing on more
printing materials. Division offices have several initiatives that caters distance learning in different
platforms—television, radio and online by preparing video- based lessons, TV and radio broadcast
With the ease of restriction on the safety protocols and measures due to the declining
number of COVID- 19 cases mandated by the Inter Agency Task Force on the early weeks of the
first quarter of 2022, the Department of Education signified its intent to also open the gates of the
DepEd Memorandum No. 30 series of 2022 provided the whole public schools in the
country the outline on where to start and with the issuance of the safety assessment tool, the schools
Content
Aklan State University
College of Teachers Education-Graduate School
Banga, Aklan
The school safety assessment tool is composed of four areas with main indicators, required
sub- indicators and optional indicators. These indicators provides the idea for schools on what to
The first area: Managing School Operations, includes indicators on keeping the school
premises safe, learner- friendly and conducive for learning. The area is subdivided into seven
categories. The first category is the shared responsibility which includes the close coordination of
schools in several government offices in securing permits for the initial opening of the schools.
The second category includes work arrangement which speaks about how teachers will be prepared
physically for the opening of the school which also requires their vaccination status. The third
category is about classroom layout and structure that outlines how the classroom must be arranged
that adheres to the social distancing protocols, proper ventilation and disinfection method. The
fourth category includes school traffic management which speaks about establishing entrance and
exits of the school that will still uphold limited interactions and proper queueing process. The fifth
category is about protective measures and hygiene which includes establishment of contact tracing
procedures, designation of safety officer, disposal of waste plans and provisions of hygiene and
sanitation. The sixth category is about the school having communication plan on how to coordinate
with the stakeholders should there be emergence of suspected cases and the seventh is the
contingency plans that provides several scenario on how schools will act should there be positive
and suspected cases among their learners and personnel. The indicators from each category mainly
speaks of keeping the school premises, classroom, learners and personnel safe from the onslaught
Aklan State University
College of Teachers Education-Graduate School
Banga, Aklan
of COVID- 19 by abiding with the safety measures and protocols mandated by the authorities.
Content- wise, the SSAT gives the school a bird’s eye view on how the school should be preparing
The second area is focusing on teaching and learning which pertains to the curriculum of
the school in the new normal. In the normal classroom setup, the classroom can cater a number of
40 students per session but with the limited interaction ruling, a classroom can only cater up to 20
learners at the maximum given the standard size of a classroom. The implications of this limitation
includes preparation of several class programs that would require additional teachers and
classrooms when not planned out well. School head and teachers will be forced to create a
comprehensive class schedules and programs that considers the manpower, availability of facilities
and teaching loads just to come up with a plan that adheres to the call of the observance of safety
protocols. The second area was also divided into three categories—the learning resources that
ensures availability of modules, textbooks and other resources that is necessary to learning
continuity; face-to-face classes that includes designing class programs and schedules observing
the 6- hour maximum interaction and prioritization of learners based on their immediate learning
needs and health issues; and, teacher support through conduct of learning action cell for teachers
to provide support plans in the delivery of better- quality basic education services. The second
indicator is actually the soul of the face-to-face classes. And the categories that it enumerated were
just timely and relevant because more than getting ready with the school’s physical environment,
it is the learning resources and manpower that has to be ready and well- planned out.
Aklan State University
College of Teachers Education-Graduate School
Banga, Aklan
The third area is the well- being and protection which includes an array of plans that
pertains to school safety, disinfection and COVID- 19 management. It enumerates the school needs
for disinfection, the development of plans for COVID- 19 cases and inclusion of the community
The third area is just a duplication of the indicators found on first two areas which makes it
redundant on its very sense. All the categories can also be found in contingency plans and
The fourth area is the school- community coordination that includes the cooperation of the
community in ensuring that the school observes the safety protocols. Similar to area number three,
this could have been merged on the first two areas to avoid duplication of documents.
It is undeniable that it is a necessary step for the schools to prepare for the face-to-face
classes given the numerous studies on modular learning during pandemic which speaks more of
the challenges rather than the pleasures of the learners and the parents alike.
hanging by a thread and that the plan seems to be flawed from the
give each one equal and undivided attention. Teachers also struggle
Aklan State University
College of Teachers Education-Graduate School
Banga, Aklan
factors along the way. Modular learning was considered the band-aid
understand.
time in checking due to other tasks, low scores of students and not
the actual performance of the students since there are some who have
concept.
focus.
These are just among the local studies which shows that modular learning is not a very
good solution for the new normal kind of education, thus the necessity for the school to open the
face-to-face classes is just timely. The issuance of the DepEd memorandums and orders reiterating
the mandates for reintroduction of “normal instruction” however has not given the schools and its
personnel the ample time to come up with all the indicators that needs to be accomplished. It could
be an exciting and fun way to prepare for the opening of the school since teachers and learners
alike are just as excited to resume what its like two years ago but given the time frame that the
eon, kaabu abu gid nga nausoy nga matsa bukon gid it relevant. [The
schools were closed abruptly but now that we are opening it again, too
irrelevant.]
kaabu gid a nga bukon gid it necessary. Like du iba ngani nga
ta gina- burden like mga isolations rooms, mga health forms ngaron
nga may mga government agencies man kita nga dapat ga- provide
Aklan State University
College of Teachers Education-Graduate School
Banga, Aklan
katon karon. [Actually, there parts in the SSAT that are necessary but
there are those that is not. There are requirements that must not be the
scope for the schools to provide like the isolation rooms, health forms
The following statements are just some of the feedbacks on how the SSAT was perceived
by some school personnel and it reflects that while schools need a guide to prepare a safe and
conducive learning environment amid the COVID- 19 crisis, the Department of Education needs
to reassess what indicators are really a must and has to consider other work that the teachers need
to do other than just preparing their classrooms and painting the arrows for that traffic
management.
While the SSAT may be perceive negatively because of the manner of how it is prepared
and the indicators that are seem endless to accomplish, among its benefits is the school can assess
the facilities and curriculum. Some of the indicators included were already existent in other DepEd
programs like the health and hygiene being present in the School- based Management;
Contingency Plans were also mandated by the Disaster Risk Reduction and Management that every
Aklan State University
College of Teachers Education-Graduate School
Banga, Aklan
schools should have one; Record of health and nutritional status should be present given that it is
among the school forms that teacher advisers need to accomplish; institutionalizing the School-
Learning Action cell which is already a mandate from Deped Order No. 35 series of 2016; and the
usage of budgetary outlays, teacher’s guide and Most Essential Learning Competencies (MELCS).
The requirements allow the teachers to revisit their pedagogies and teaching strategies
which may have been forgotten during the modular distance learning. It also allow the school head
to check on the necessary school facilities and programs prior to the pandemic which dictates the
On the SSAT alone, however, it does not possess practicality since there are requirements
which forces the schools to provide additional resources that is not really stipulated on the annual
implementation plan and in return, there will be projects which will be halted, realigned and
postponed just to cater the SSAT requirements. Annual implementation plan is the annual outline
of the necessary projects, procurements and plans that the school needs and having to realign it for
the sole purpose of accomplishing other unnecessary requirements will cause the delays on what
is really essential.
Moreover, other requirements are just superficial. The social distancing, seat plans and
limited interactions do not really conform to what is happening in the real classroom scenario. The
Aklan State University
College of Teachers Education-Graduate School
Banga, Aklan
teacher will not always be around the learners to monitor that they would not mingle with one
another.
“Para siin gid mga arrow ta ngara nga sayud ta man nga kun iya
know that when the learners are inside the school, we cannot hinder
katon pero di man gid masunod in real life. [We are just wasting
papers with this requirements when we could not even follow this in
real life.]
COVID- 19 has already exhausted our resources—money, time and relationships. Going
back to school should be a haven—where learners would gladly look forward to going and learn
The main issue with the accomplishment of SSAT is its timeframe. It was mandated
alongside the rush of accomplishing integrative assessments, weekly learning plans, printing and
Aklan State University
College of Teachers Education-Graduate School
Banga, Aklan
checking of modules, liquidation reports and end of school year checking of school forms and
accomplishing of grades.
These pile of paperworks hinders the teachers in doing other aggregate tasks such as
beautification of the school and classroom arrangements as mandated by the memorandum and the
tool. There is also a thin line between accomplishing the required indicators and the aesthetic factor
that entails with it. Instead of just being compliant, schools were unconsciously on a competition
mode when it comes to classroom arrangement. Instead of helping each other out to accomplish
the indicators, there is a silent comparison of who accomplished it best that adds up to the pressure
on everyone.
The need to understand that we need to coexist and have the good of the learners in mind
above all should take place and it has to start within the core of our department. While competition
is good, it should not exhaust our time, our efforts and our resources. The tool, admittedly serves
its purpose and as implementors of the tool, let us just assess what is necessary, what is relevant
IV. CONCLUSION
“We ensure that the health, safety and well- being of our learners, teachers and personnel
After two years of the schools being idle of the laughs, plays and noise of the learners, the
Department of Education has finally signified its intentions of reintroduction the face -to-face
learning modality. Modular learning has been the band- aid solution and admittedly, it possess
more challenges rather than perks for the learners and parents alike. Prior to the opening of classes,
schools should first accomplish the school safety assessment tool to ensure that all requirements
are met in upholding a safe and COVID- free environment for our learners.
While the SSAT provides a comprehensive list of what the schools needs to have before it
can be declared ready, it also posed scenarios and indicators that are impossible to met and
maintain in real life making it irrelevant. Furthermore, more than the compliance, it has created a
competitive and exhaustive atmosphere among schools with the unconscious need to outdo one
another. With that mindset, accomplishing the task as tedious as the SSAT will be indeed, tiring.
Lastly, may we all keep in mind that more than the flashy classrooms and colorfully-
painted school premises, the very core of the existence of the school is for learning to take place.
With that, surely, doing them for our learners is more inspiring rather than tiring.
Aklan State University
College of Teachers Education-Graduate School
Banga, Aklan
REFERENCE/S:
Garbe, A., et.al. (2020). COVID-19 and Remote Learning: Experiences of Parents with
Children during the Pandemic. American Journal of Qualitative Research. Vol. 4 No. 3,
pp. 45-65 https://doi.org/10.29333/ajqr/8471. Retrieved on January 10, 2022 from
https://www.ajqr.org/download/parents-experiences-with-remote-education-during-
covid-19-school-closures-8471.pdf
Estrada, L.P. (2021). Are self- learning modules effective?. Distance Learning. Rappler
through rappler.com
Jayani, P. G. (2021). Teachers’ Perception On Modular Distance Learning Approach At
Mindanao State University-Sulu: Its Readiness And Challenges. Open Access Indonesia
Journal of Social Sciences, 4(3), 275-295. https://doi.org/10.37275/oaijss.v4i2.71
Acala, M. (2021). Challenges of teachers in teaching amid the Covid-19 pandemic
Aklan State University
College of Teachers Education-Graduate School
Banga, Aklan
Aklan State University
College of Teachers Education-Graduate School
Banga, Aklan
Aklan State University
College of Teachers Education-Graduate School
Banga, Aklan
Aklan State University
College of Teachers Education-Graduate School
Banga, Aklan
Aklan State University
College of Teachers Education-Graduate School
Banga, Aklan
Aklan State University
College of Teachers Education-Graduate School
Banga, Aklan
Aklan State University
College of Teachers Education-Graduate School
Banga, Aklan
Aklan State University
College of Teachers Education-Graduate School
Banga, Aklan
Aklan State University
College of Teachers Education-Graduate School
Banga, Aklan
Aklan State University
College of Teachers Education-Graduate School
Banga, Aklan
Aklan State University
College of Teachers Education-Graduate School
Banga, Aklan
Aklan State University
College of Teachers Education-Graduate School
Banga, Aklan
Aklan State University
College of Teachers Education-Graduate School
Banga, Aklan
Aklan State University
College of Teachers Education-Graduate School
Banga, Aklan
Aklan State University
College of Teachers Education-Graduate School
Banga, Aklan
Aklan State University
College of Teachers Education-Graduate School
Banga, Aklan
Aklan State University
College of Teachers Education-Graduate School
Banga, Aklan