While the shift to distance learning caused by the pandemic raised concerns over the quality of education students will get, assessing students’ learning and progress remains another issue.

How do teachers make sure that there will be no cheating?

The Department of Education (DepEd) on Monday, September 21, said schools will not be holding periodical examinations for this school year to prevent ‘distance cheating.’

While DepEd acknowledges the importance of periodical tests in assessing students’ understanding of the lessons, Education Undersecretary Diosdado San Antonio said in a virtual press briefing on Monday that the pandemic compelled them to be “more creative and flexible in implementing summative assessment schemes without sacrificing assessment’s credibility.”

“We feel that [periodical] exams… could be addressed by summative and performance tasks which are more inclusive and authentic in gauging the learning process and progress unlike periodic exams which are based on pen and paper examination,” San Antonio said.

Periodical examinations are supposedly done at the end of each learning quarter which “measures the learner’s acquisition of content standards as articulated in the curriculum guide.” There are 4 quarters in each academic year.

Aside from deferring periodical examinations, San Antonio appealed to parents or those guiding students at home to take the lead in “fostering the value of honesty.” (READ: Distance learning is ‘perfect time’ to teach students honesty, says DepEd)

He also advised teachers to do occasional conversations with students throughout so they would know their learning progress.

“It doesn’t have to be a test. It is a conversation on the lessons covered,” San Antonio said.

Meanwhile, private schools are only “strongly encouraged” but not required to adopt the policy on periodical exams.

Despite the shift to distance learning, DepEd earlier said that there will be no changes in the subject areas that will be taught for the school year 2020-2021. (READ: No changes in subjects to be taught this school year – DepEd)

Schools, however, have the liberty to adjust what subjects will be taught per month provided that all 8 core subjects will be covered every grading quarter, DepEd said.

The 8 core subjects are: English; Mathematics; Filipino; Science; Araling Panlipunan; Technology and Livelihood Education or TLE (for high school); Edukasyong Pangkabuhayan at Pangtahanan (for elementary); Music, Arts, Physical Education, and Health (MAPEH); and Edukasyon sa Pagpapakatao (ESP). Only Grades 1 and 2 have Mother Tongue subject.

DepEd shifted to distance learning for the coming school year to comply with President Rodrigo Duterte’s directive for schools to delay face-to-face classes until a coronavirus vaccine becomes available.

As of Monday, some 22 million public school students have signed up for the school opening on October 5, while 2.1 million students in private schools have enrolled. Some private schools began holding classes during the first week of August. – Rappler.com