THE Department of Education (DepEd) maintained on Thursday, August 24, 2023, that decorations and posters on classroom walls are distractions for students.
In a radio interview, DepEd Assistant Secretary Francis Cesar Bringas stood by the agency’s order provided under DepEd Order 21 that schools “shall ensure that school grounds, classrooms and all its walls, and other school facilities are clean and free from unnecessary artwork, decorations, tarpaulin, and posters at all times.”
The order also stated that classrooms should remain bare and devoid of posters, decorations or other posted materials and that it should not be used to stockpile materials and should be clear of other unused items or items for disposal.
“The Department believes that the learners can focus more on the lessons at hand if there are less distractions inside the classrooms. Normally, ‘yung mga distractions na ‘yan come in the form of too many posters that are posted on the walls,” he said.
“Kaya ang directive ni Secretary gawing malinis lahat ng mga walls natin para makapag-focus ang mga bata sa kanilang mga lessons at hand at makapag-focus sila sa teachers na facilitators of learning inside the classroom,” he added.
(So the Secretary's directive is to make all our walls clean so that the children can focus on their lessons and they can focus on the teachers who are facilitators of learning inside the classroom.)
Bringas said that visuals aid, however, can be brought out, or can be used to aid the teachers during lesson proper.
Meanwhile, in a radio interview on Tuesday, August 24, child psychologist Dr. Joseph Regalado said visual aids, including those posted on the classroom walls, are “big help” in stimulating and reinforcing learning for students especially the young children.
He said that even during break time, students may continue learning through the visuals on their classroom walls but he reiterated that it should be age appropriate.
Regalado said posting the student’s work in walls may serve as encouragement as it means that his/her work is being recognized.
“Napakaimportante yan sa mga batang bata kasi ang the younger you are, napaka visual ‘yung kanyang encounter with the world is visual sa pag-aaral niya like cognitive function, pangunawa at pagintindi, visual yan napakaimportante ng visual sa kanya. Maraming konsepto ang pwede mong sabihin pero ang importante pag nakuha nila ang litrato, sabi nga natin ang picture ang daming sinasabi maraming words of comparison sa pictures lamang at totoo yon sa mga bata,” he said.
(That is very important for young children because their encounter with the world is very visual, like in his studies, the cognitive function, perception and understanding are based on visuals, which is very important to them. There are many concepts you can say, but the important thing is when they get the photo, there are many words of comparison in the pictures alone and that is true for children.)
But Regalado reminded against cluttering or too much wall decorations.
He said teachers should be given the free hand for their own judgment on how they can feel they can teach best. (VoxPop Philippines)