It’s no secret that education system here in the Philippines have been hit hard by the COVID-19 pandemic. As the DepEd Secretary reiterates, Education must continue. This new way of learning brought by the pandemic can be an additional challenge during this tough time. And we often hear the difficulties of parents, guardians in the abrupt shift of the education system, teachers, too, have a fair share of challenges.
Teachers must ensure that the quality of learning, even with the absence of face-to-face experiences, from the planning of lessons to the distribution and retrieval of modules since majority of the learners afforded Printed Modular Distance Learning based from the survey made. Like parents and learners, teachers will likely say, “The struggle is real”.
“During this pandemic, printing the modules from the Central or Division Office is way more challenging than before because we need to edit or contextualize the modules to suit the capabilities of the learners and since the concern is not just limited to making sure that the learning will be transferred to the learners, but also to making sure that this is actually delivered to them,” says some.
“The planning part is complex now since we are adapting the blended learning. My audio-visual materials, cellphone, laptop and needed apps needed to be familiarize with before using them,” says few, who are not quite knowledgeable in the use of ICT.
Great challenges to everyone in the conduct of this Printed Modular Distance Learning because there are many issues that need to be addressed such as new study setting of the learner, educational background or capacity of the knowledge bearer and the in-depth evaluation of learner’s performance. Were the learners are learning or just the knowledge bearers?
At the end of the day, teachers hope that something learning happened through the help of the parents, guardians or their knowledge bearers. Teachers hope that learners would realize that they should work hand in hand with their teachers for the pursuit of their modular learning. Ika nga, kailangang magtulungan para maisakatuparan ang lahat ng ito. Hindi biro ang blended learning approach sa mga bata at magulang. Same is through, challenge din ito sa mga guro, especially sa mga hindi techie.
With careful planning, honest, and realistic feedback for processing, I believe that education will still push through effectively. It just takes adaptability and synergy, as life should not end with the virus. It should rather open broader and more positive possibilities without compromising the precious lives of our teachers, students, and other stakeholders.
The role of our teachers in shaping the minds of the nation is, in itself, a sacrifice and an act of love, for it takes time, attention, and patience. They’ve doubled, maybe even tripled, or more than this pandemic. Clearly, teachers have been seeking ways to continue the learning process of students, refusing to give up on their vocations.
“Education is the passport to the future, for tomorrow belongs to those who prepare for it today.” -Malcolm X