DepEd: Gadgets, internet not required for distance learning

January 9 ------ The Department of Education (DepEd) on Monday reiterated that gadgets as well as internet connections are not required under the distance learning set-up implemented this school year. DepEd issued this reminder following reports that students allegedly holding a “Christmas sale” of sensual photos and videos to raise funds to be used for expenses related to the implementation of distance learning amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

“We are continuously reminding our direct stakeholders that gadgets or internet connections are not requirements for distance learning,” DepEd said in a statement. “Depending on the available resources, public schools are also implementing other alternative distance learning modalities such as modular, radio, and TV-based instruction,” it added. When it comes to concerns raised related to distance learning, DepEd said that it is implementing “flexible distance learning and academic ease measures” to ensure that education will not be costly for parents and students.

On Sunday, Jan. 3, Sen. Sherwin Gatchalian sounded alarm on reports of students’ online sex “Christmas sale” and urged the Department of Justice (DOJ) Office of Cybercrime and the Philippine National Police’s Anti-Cybercrime Group to “intensify their probe and crackdown” on the said activities. In Department Order No. 001 dated Jan. 4, DOJ Secretary Menardo Guevarra ordered the NBI to conduct an investigation on reported sale of sensual photographs, video, or pornography of students.

Related to this, DepEd also expressed support to the protection of all children from all forms of physical or mental violence, neglect or negligent treatment, maltreatment, and exploitation – including sexual abuse. As an institution dedicated to safeguarding the welfare of school children and youth, DepEd said its is “deeply alarmed by the rise of cases of online sexual abuse and exploitation of children during the pandemic” – including a reported students’ online sex “Christmas sale” activity cited by Gatchalian.

DepEd noted that such abuse and exploitation are prohibited under Republic Act (RA) No. 9775 or the Anti-Child Pornography Act of 2009, and RA No. 10175 or the “Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2012”. The RA No. 9775 created the Inter-Agency Council Against Child Pornography (IACACP) and it also mandates the council to prevent and address child pornography. DepEd said it supports the work of the IACACP and other government agencies, and shall fully cooperate with them in efforts to prevent and address pornography among learners.

“Even before the pandemic, the DepEd has launched several initiatives for the protection of children,” DepEd said. Aside from conducting cybersafety training programs in schools to protect students from online abuse, violence, exploration, discrimination, and bullying, DepEd said that it also developed and distributed materials related to child online protection – among others.

Despite these efforts, DepEd said that the rising cases of child exploitation and abuse call for better collaboration and cooperation among national agencies and local communities, especially in these difficult times. “We must not let our children be exposed to such corrupt acts under any circumstances,” it concluded.

Source: mb.com.ph