(Read the first part, Teachers on the Frontlines, of this news feature here: snstr.co/9sg)
WITH the opening of classes on August 24, 2020, only over a month away, a lot of issues and concerns are yet to be settled and fixed.
But the Department of Education (DOH) promised that it's working double-time to ready the system, at the central and field units, to deliver accessible and quality distance education.
Education Secretary Leonor Briones also cleared that opening of classes come August will not necessarily mean traditional face-to-face learning in classrooms.
“Distance learning will be a major component of learning delivery for the incoming school year. The physical opening of schools will depend on the risk severity grading or classification of a locality, pursuant to guidelines of the Department of Health or Inter-Agency Task Force on Emerging Infectious Diseases. The schools under the supervision of the Regional and Division Offices, are authorized to decide on the specific delivery modalities,” Briones said.
Delivery modalities, as defined, can be categorized into blended learning and online learning delivery modes. These learning delivery modes can be realized through the Learning Resources portal and DepEd Commons; use of TV and radio; or learning modules and packets both in print and digital formats, which may be deemed appropriate in the areas’ situation.
While most educational institutions in the country prepare for online classes, schools in rural areas like R. Sumambot Elementary School in Purok Banacabac, Barangay Del Pilar, Manay, Davao Oriental, where internet connection remains a fantasy, modular learning is the only option.
Modular learning modality refers to the use of printed modules or manuals to be distributed to pupils and students as an educational reference which they can conveniently use at home.
“Kung sa bukid sir, wala gyuy online classes mahitabo kay aside sa walay signal didto, wala pud gadgets mga bata. Maong we will go modular learning kay mao ang applicable sa sitwasyon diri (In rural areas like here, online education is not feasible because aside from the place lacks internet connection and network signal, the children have no gadgets that they can use. We see modular learning as the best option in our area),” Osman L. Paidan, teacher of the said school, shared.
But the road to modular learning seems to be bumpy for this small and remote school in Manay town as some 20 out of their 68 pupils are still not capable to read, write and comprehend on their own yet. And the reality that parents or guardians of these still struggling kids are also illiterate makes the situation harder.
“The bigger problem we have is modular learning will not work to some of our pupils because aside from they can’t read and comprehend on their own, their parents are also not capable of guiding them kay sila mismo dili pud kabalo mobasa (because they too are not capable of reading with comprehension),” Paidan pointed out.
This is a common concern in the community as the school opening approaches. Parents even resorted before letting their children skip the upcoming school year.
For instance, Salvacion Balacuit, a mother of one of Paidan’s pupils, shared in a separate interview that she decided to not send her son to school this year if modular learning will be pushed.
“Kami dili gyud mi makapasalig na matabangan namo among anak sa balay kay gawas sa busihay mi sa uma, di gyud pud mi kabalo mismo mobasa, unsaon namo pagtabang sa iya? ( We can’t commit to helping my son if the set up will be modular learning because aside from I’m all day busy farming so we have something to eat daily, we also can’t read for him, so how can we help?),” Balacuit said.
But the teachers were able to convince them as education must not be halted by the pandemic.
“They say it will be useless because they can’t guide their children for the modular learning. Pero gitubag namo nga dili sila mabalaka kay himoan namo og pamaagi, kamiy bahala para dili sila maproblema (But we assured them not to worry as we will come up with a solution on their concerns),” he added.
To help the parents and their children, Paidan said the Manay North District came up with a plan to address the issue – Reading Remediation Program. This program targets to allow teachers and pupils to have a face-to-face learning system to enable pupils to read and comprehend before August 24. Non-reader and struggling reader pupils are those in kindergarten to third grade. While some pupils from fourth to upcoming seventh grades still fall under needs-enhancement readers or those who still need improvement in reading, pronunciation, and comprehension.
Paidan said an inked Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the school, DepEd, and the local government unit is needed to proceed with the plan. The MOU, which will allow non-reader pupils to physically visit the school for a one-on-one session with teachers on reading or vice versa, was signed on July 13 or 28 school days before the opening of classes.
But with August 24 only a few weeks away, is the limited time enough for some 20 pupils to learn reading with the help of only three teachers?
“Kayanon namo, Kinahanglan kaayo aron maka proceed with modular learning (We’ll try our very best. We needed to capacitate them to proceed with modular learning),” Paidan said.
Paidan explained that since the MOU was approved, they immediately started implementing the Reading Remediation Program. They have come up with a schedule to systematically teach the pupils.
On Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, the three-man teaching force of the school teaches pupils from 7:30 in the morning until 4:30 in the afternoon at the school. Each pupil has an hour schedule of a reading session with the teacher. On Tuesdays and Thursdays, Paidan along with his two other co-teachers will visit the pupils’ houses.
“Naa man gud gihapon pupils na dili ka visit sa school, so kami na lang mobisita sa ila para matudloan lang gyud namo sila og basa (There are still pupils who can’t visit the school, so we visited them at their houses just to teach them how to read),” Paidan shared.
But Paidan added that parents of their pupils have requested to allow a scheduled face-to-face classroom set-up, especially for non-readers.
“Total wala man Covid diri sa atoa (Manay), basin pwede magklase ang mga bata sa skwelahan gyud bahalag dili kada adlaw kay dili gyud na sila katuon kung sa balay lang (Since our town is still Covid-free, maybe we can request a scheduled physical learning set-up because if they’ll stay all the time in the house I doubt they can academically learn something),” parent Meme Magno raised during the parents-teachers meeting in their purok.
Paidan said this might be the last resort if pupils are still unable to read well after the Reading Remediation Program. But he emphasized that this has yet to be discussed with the DepEd officials as physical learning is not encouraged at the moment as advised by the Davao Oriental Schools Division Superintendent Reynaldo Mellorida.
“We still have to wait for further instruction from the central office. If physical classes will be allowed, then we will observe the required protocols,” Mellorida said in a separate interview.
However, in a May 11 DepEd online press conference, Briones bared that in areas where face-to-face modality is allowed, there shall only be a maximum of 15 to 20 learners in each class in compliance with the social distancing measures set by the DOH.
How modular learning works
Modular learning is seen to play a significant part in the "new normal" of education in schools situated in remote areas. But how exactly should it be done?
According to the education department, a standard manual for every grade level will be distributed to schools from the central office.
However, teachers are told to create their version as delay in distribution to schools is expected.
“DepEd provided us with a template already. Since modules provided by the central office are expected to be delayed, we are expected to make our own module based on Most Essential Learning Competency. We have to do it as early as possible so our pupils have something to use when the classes open, we will just use the central office-provided module when we secure a copy,” Paidan said.
Under modular learning, students will be given printed or digital copies of manuals for their lessons and assignments, learn from it, answer the activities and pass these to their teachers within a specific schedule.
Mellorida, for his part, said, that if there are still non-reader students even after the reading remediation program a scheduled home or purok visit will be done by the school teachers or by the volunteer learning facilitators
“These volunteer learning facilitators are preferably education course graduates and from the community. These volunteer learning facilitators will undergo training before the start of classes,” he said.
Learning forward
Education in rural communities has always been a concern for years. Access to quality education coupled with important learning resources remains limited. And with the pandemic in the picture, the problem was multiplied in folds.
As Paidan narrated, the state of education in their community is a constant struggle for both learners and teachers. Lack of electricity, absence of internet connection and network signal, road access, natural calamities and unstable security are just a few of the factors.
He added family problems in households also bother pupils who want to go to school.
“Ang uban patabangon og trabaho sa ilang ginikanan, ang uban maoy mobantay sa ilang mga manghod maong makaabsent. Ang uban mosulod wala pay kaon kay nagpait daw sila, so as teacher maluoy gyud ka maong gadala ko og food for sharing (Others are engaged to child labor, others will have to take the role of the parents in looking after their siblings because their parents are out for work that’s why they skip classes. Others go to school hungry. So as a teacher, I often bring food for my pupils),” Paidan shared.
But what keeps them going was the determination of most of their pupils who endure waking up early and walk for school for hours just to attend their classes.
Moving forward, Paidan said producing printed materials for pupils is a challenge as electricity remains a scarcity.
“Hopefully we can have our own generator set so we can reproduce educational materials while we are in school. We have one printer but we can’t use it because there’s no power supply,” he said.
At present, they bring the printer to their houses in the downtown area, which is hassle and time-consuming. He also noted that school supplies for the children in their community can be of big help when the classes start.
Briones underscored on Tatak ng Pagbabago pre-Sona forum Wednesday, July 15, that she is confident blended learning strategy for the next school year will work. But given the realities on the ground especially in remote schools like R. Sumambot Elem. School in Manay town, it is too early to conclude.
“As early as this month (July) tinitrain natin, may school tayo para sa parents and teachers para makahanda sila kung ano mang arrangement ang kalalabasan, may kuryente, wala, may libro o wala, may cellphone o wala, ay mag aadjust ang eskwelahan basta lamang makapagtuloy sa pag aaral ang mga bata. Bottomline, patuloy ang pag aaral ng mga bata (As of July, we have trained our teachers and parents so they can get ready for whatever learning arrangement will be applicable for their setting. With our without electricity, books, and/or cellphones, the school will adjust just to continue the education for the children. Bottom line, education classes will resume, education will continue” Briones added.
While the introduction of the blended learning program is a welcome measure given the ongoing Covid-19 threats, still nothing beats face-to-face learning set-up, at least for a 10-year-old sixth-grader Cloy Jay D. Mandabon.
“Makamingaw ang klase. Gimingaw nami sa among classroom, classmates ug nila teachers. Gimingaw na pud ko sa among mga classroom activities. Lahi ra gyud if naay teacher sa among kilid na motudlo (I miss our classes. I miss our classroom, my classmates and my teachers. I also miss all our classroom activities. It is still better if we have our teacher by our side when learning),” the pupil shared.
Hiccups in entering the new normal of education are inevitable. But with all eyes and hands set to the goal of continuing education amidst pandemic, nothing is farfetched. However, this goal can only be attained if all players in the education sector will up their game as teachers can only do so much.