SECRETARY Leonor Briones of the Department of Education (DepEd) has shown her motherly concern by allowing teachers without desktop, laptop and tablets to request their school heads to give them permission to bring the gadgets home. Work from home could only be effective if teachers have the facilities and the power provider.
DepEd national office is preparing self-learning modules (SLMs) to be used by the various types of learners. Some school division superintendents, if not all, have tasked their education program supervisors (EPS) in all subject areas to prepare these self-learning modules good for two weeks so that when there is a delay in the arrival of materials, the pupils and students in the provinces can work on the locally made kits.
The EPS believes that they are busy but the preparation of the SLMs should be given priority. The expert subject supervisors in Science, Math, English, Filipino, Social Studies and other areas should provide a specific template with complete contents on the specific subject, not generic. That is their job as expected by Secretary Briones.
The models that have been prepared by the EPS should be given to teachers to be used in the classroom after they have been subjected to quality assurance assessment. If the EPS believes that there are other competent teachers like the principals, department heads and master teachers who can be of help to come up with excellent outputs, then the EPS can always solicit their help but they should work with them. The preparation should not just be entrusted by the EPS to a group of teachers without their participation to prevent confusion.
Secretary Briones believes that even when we are in the crisis, the quality of materials to be used by the pupils and the students should not be compromised, that is why the EPS should be in the front line to give their best effort. DepEd cannot afford to be uncertain to burden too much the classroom teachers who may not be the experts in the preparation. They can learn gradually if guided properly.
Other than the use of self-learning modules, Secretary Briones has also reached out for the assistance of the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) for TV and radio-based education that could provide broadcast connectivity and digital security. Teachers can have the role of broadcasters.
That could be the reason why distance learning is encouraged to keep the learners and the teachers safe. The fact cannot be denied that teachers are already reporting to school, at least three times a week for varied activities, exposing themselves to the virus. Teachers in their working area do not wear face masks all the time, just like other government employees inside their office. They would suffocate for prolonged face masking.
Even during the enrollment period, teachers were obliged to face the parents who could not fill up the enrollment forms. Remote enrollment is only possible for parents and students with facilities. Most parents in public schools do not have these and some are also non-readers... just like some of their children. That is a painful fact.
Some teachers’ organizations are requesting DepEd that teachers should also avail of the Covid-19 free test and be provided insurance so that when they are affected by the virus their hospitalization will be answered by the insurance company. This should be taken seriously because in some areas there is already local transmission.
In this uncertain time, DepEd is also training teachers on how to provide mental health and psychosocial support services. This could be new and not easy because the targets here are the parents and the learners, especially those with suicidal instincts, who cannot readily accept the sudden change in our education system. Teachers will touch the reason and emotion of their subjects.
Teachers are teachers. Teaching is their profession and mission. They are the frontliners in education. They need the trust and confidence of the community. The future of our children is partly on their shoulders... in their commitment and dedication. Mother Leonor, thanks for giving your teachers tender loving care. Keep up the good work teachers!