THE OPPORTUNITIES AND ADVERSITIES OF THE ALTERNATIVE DELIVERY MODALITIES IMPLEMENTED IN PUBLIC ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS IN THE DIVISION OF ISABELA AND ITS IMPACT ON LEARNERS' PERFORMANCE

The COVID-19 pandemic has brought significant changes to the education sector, particularly with the shift to alternative learning delivery modalities (ADMs). The pandemic forced schools to move away from traditional face-to-face instruction, prompting the Department of Education (DepEd) to implement its Basic Education Learning Continuity Plan (BELCP) for the 2020-2021 school year. This study, focused on the Division of Isabela, explored school heads' and teachers' perceptions of the opportunities, challenges, and impacts of ADMs such as online, modular, TV-based, and radio-based instruction. Using a descriptive research design, 587 school heads and 1594 teachers participated in a survey covering their profiles, ADM perceptions, and confidence levels. Results indicated that while ADMs provided opportunities for flexible and independent learning, they also presented challenges, particularly with student engagement, tracking progress, and connectivity issues. The study found significant differences in respondents' perceptions based on their age, position, and educational qualifications, with school heads and teachers showing varying levels of confidence in using different ADMs. Ultimately, the study concluded that ADMs were effective in ensuring learning continuity during the pandemic but recommended continuous training and evaluation to further improve their implementation.