THE school year will open next month and though some groups ask for a postponement again, October 5th will likely stand. The Department of Education (DepEd) has undoubtedly been doing its best to prepare but it can only do what it can. The enormous workload in education this pandemic does not only depend on teachers and other school personnel. Parents and guardians have to shoulder additional roles to make the teaching and learning process function as planned.
DepEd calls the parents and guardians guides, mentors, and facilitators. There is no better time to emphasize these roles than today's time. The teachers are literally not around when learners are doing their modules. The parents or guardians are the ones with them when they do and like it or not, for convenience reasons, students will consult their parents/guardians first. Parents and guardians are duty-bound to assist their children because there is no much choice. This is difficult because many parents and guardians do not feel ready and capable to facilitate learning.
As mentors/facilitators/guides in learning, parents and guardians are expected to spare time to check the modules so that they can actually assist their children. This means they have to sacrifice their work and personal time to fulfill this role. The presence of the parents and guardians makes a lot of difference here. However, this seemingly simple task may prove too tasking because parents and guardians need to work. Many parents have to change their supervision mindset to do this role. In the old normal, we have parents and guardians who think that their part in their children' education starts in enrolling their children and ends in getting their report cards. Today, they should maintain close and active supervision.
The role of the parents and guardians does stop in being mentors and facilitators, they have to act as guides and confidants. Learners have to deal with a lack of motivation and lack of energy in studying. Teachers usually integrate motivational activities in the class to keep them focused but this would not be the case. This time learners have to stay at home.
There is less mobility which may contribute to boredom. Also, the seven-month break due to the pandemic might keep their energy down. The break is usually two months but now it was extended to more than a half year. Parents and guardians will take the role of counselors too. They have to make ways to help their children adjust to the new educational setup.
Distance learning is new and it may overwhelm the students. The adjustment from the face to face setting to the distance learning setting may cause mood swings among the learners. It may also cause frustration and disappointment especially when they are having difficulty adjusting. Unlike the normal setting, there have no friends to talk to when they are bored and/or tired in school.
There is also the role to ensure that actual learning actually takes place. Honesty by the learners in answering the modules is the key here. Parents and guardians have to live in honesty no matter how tempting it is for them to help their struggling children.
There are challenges apparently among parents and guardians in fulfilling these roles. Students sometimes do not trust their parents and guardians in accomplishing school tasks. They are hesitant to ask for help thinking that their parents and guardians do not know about the subject matter. It is up to the parents and guardians how to get the trust of their children.
The additional roles put upon the shoulders of parents and guardians are serious. They cannot be ignored and overlooked. Without the commitment of parents and guardians to embrace these roles, the quality of education amid the pandemic will surely be compromised.