THE distance learning adopted by the Department of Education (DepEd) has placed parents and guardians in an unsettled situation. It is both an opportunity ad a challenge. They are called to guide their children in answering their modules and part of this supervision includes academic coaching and stirring motivation. This does not suit well to many parents and guardians, particularly those who are working and those we consider illiterate. It was not a rejection of the job. The timing is just a bit wrong.
There was a call that parents and guardians should not answer these modules but it is often tempting to do so, especially when learners are having a hard time working on them. Honesty is certainly tested. Furthermore, based on a DepEd order, the key answer will be attached to the modules to be given to the students, which means students will have access to the answers. Can the parents resist in withholding the key answers to their children for the sake of learning and honesty or not? The glaring question is, why give it?
This issue has been a subject of debate by academic personnel, parents, and concerned individuals. Those who agree with attaching the key answers argue that since students will work on so-called self-learning modules (SLM), they should be able to see their progress by referring to the key answers. One staff believes that the academic rating should not be the focus of education this pandemic because the important thing is that the learners learn. Others contend that the sound or sight of the module should not scare the learners and attaching the key answers will make this possible. I want to be convinced of these arguments but my experiences in the field of teaching make it difficult for me to understand the wisdom in it particularly against the current educational backdrop.
I am not a total skeptic or a pessimist but for parents, the most practical thing to do when they do not have time to assist their children, if they are not capable to assist, or if their children are having a hard time working/answering their modules is to open the key answers. As mentioned, not all parents are literate, not all parents even if literate, are not familiar with many of the lessons/topics in the modules. To help their children, they have to study the lessons or topics too. Many parents and guardians do not have the luxury of time to undergo this relearning process. Also, there is a due date for the submission of the answer sheets.
Without the key answer, both learners and parents find a way to answer the modules. The student can consult the teachers. He/she can exert greater effort like reading the module again. The parents can ask for help from others. The key answer can tell the learner if the answer is right and wrong but at this point, it will most likely promote laziness. Attaching the key answer provides the students the alternative to copy them for submission. It allows the students to cheat.
Accordingly, DepEd did not include quarter exams in the assessment procedure to avoid cheating. Students might share their answers with their classmates or copy answers from their classmates. Parents can also answer the exams on behalf of their children. Following the same logic, key answers should not also be given to the students or parents. Encouraging them not to copy them is not that easy. If the reason is to check their progress, they can always consult their teachers.
Many teachers do not buy this move too. The worst case is, students will no longer read their modules because they already have access to the answers. This is the immaturity of course but students are at the stage looking at immaturity as creativity. I say, many students will just copy these answers and a lot of parents will hardly raise eyebrows.
The challenges continue to pile up as the school year progresses. For parents and guardians, there is accountability to do what they are being asked. The bigger challenge is honesty. Can they be blamed if they give in to practicality -- we call cheating when the opportunity to do it is laid down right before them? I don't think so.