"Let us remain patient and considerate."
"Let us remain patient and considerate."
As the country continues to grapple with the COVID-19 pandemic, our educational system strives to carry on providing education to students through various learning modalities. The Department of Education provided alternative modes of education—the modular learning which involves the distribution of printed copies of self-learning modules, and the blended/online learning where students will be able to attend classes except that classes are done via radio, television, or online platforms.
Since the beginning of classes, we have seen students and teachers alike sharing their plight in adapting to these new learning modalities. I agree that pursuing education in the middle of the pandemic is quite a challenging feat for both education providers and for students alike. For one, internet services provided by telecommunications companies in the country, for many years now, have not been at par with those of other countries. Hence, many bewail the intermittent connection or worse, the lack of reliable signal especially in far flung areas.
Secondly, the remoteness of schools from communities makes it difficult for both students and teachers to deliver the necessary modules. This problem has actually been existing for many years now. The lack of roads and educational facilities in far-flung areas, especially in the provinces, makes it all the more difficult for teachers to reach their students. Apart from this, public reports circulate regarding the blatant errors in the learning modules received by students.
We are in the midst of an understandably difficult time. The prevention of COVID-19 transmission remains the primary goal, but we cannot let the situation paralyze the education of our youth. The enrollment of children lies within the discretion of parents and children. However, let me emphasize that education still holds prime importance in the lives of children.
As Congress continues to discuss the 2021 budget, I call on to the government to provide the necessary support to the alternative learning modalities implemented by the DepEd. While we await for the development of a cure and vaccine to this COVID-19, we have to adapt to the new normal, and if we are to adapt to the new normal, we cannot set aside the fact that students need to continue learning. While the budget remains open for amendments, I urge our legislators to take into consideration the needs of the education sector, especially those teachers and students belonging in poor income families and those in far-flung areas. I urge the legislators to funnel adequate funds to education to address existing and future problems and make learning a sustainable activity while in quarantine.
The responsibility of supporting the education of our children does not solely depend on the DepEd. As they say, it takes a village to raise a child. Hence, I also call on our telecommunications companies to immediately address existing internet problems and assertively explore options that can lead to the necessary and drastic improvements in telecommunications services in the country. I also call on the government to allow more infrastructure projects, particularly the building of necessary roads and bridges in remote areas in the provinces, to facilitate the delivery of educational materials, goods, and public services.
This pandemic inevitably makes an impact to the learning habits and learning curve of children. While problems may still arise even a few months into the school year, let us remain patient and considerate of the possible troubles experienced both by teachers and students. Let us extend our support, instead of pulling down these efforts. At the end of the day, what is important is that we overcome this pandemic without posing detrimental and irreversible effects on the well-being of the people and society. As much as we can, we have to hold on to the thought of normalcy as we await the cure for this disease.
