[Last of two parts]
With the on-going pandemic, Argy Catolin, a teacher at Aglonok Primary School Iloilo, admits that students and teachers will face more difficulties in learning.
The lack of electricity and reception in their area poses challenges in the upcoming school year. Recognizing the limitations of their area, his school has opted to utilize modular distance learning.
Despite the challenges they may face, teachers and parents at the Aglonok Primary School work together to make sure that students can adapt to the new normal in education.
“In our case in upland areas, we always give our best in helping our pupils. We did it before the pandemic through the Adopt-a-Child Program,” Catolin said.
“In the new normal, we can help our students by providing learning materials and we can help our parents by providing accurate information regarding the new normal setting.”
“This pandemic affects everything all over the world.” Catolin said.
“Until there’s no vaccine we have to deal with the new normal setting.
Us teachers have to be equipped with a positive attitude towards this crisis.”
Catolin also said it was only through the collective efforts of teachers, students, parents, and the Department of Education (DepEd) that they can make a difference during these difficult times.
Catolin and Cagayan National High School Master Teacher Enrique Garcia are only two of the countless teachers who have their students’ best interests at heart and are working tirelessly to ensure that they still receive quality education.
Both teachers insisted that learning must continue, even during this pandemic.
Catolin believes quality education can help reduce poverty, promote peace, and foster development in the community, which is why he is in favor of opening classes this year.
“As a teacher, we have to be equipped with a positive attitude towards this crisis. Together, we can make a difference,” he said.
Likewise, Garcia supports the various learning continuity initiatives in place for the incoming school year.
“Education must continue. It is through it that we develop informed, critical, creative, adaptive, flexible, strong-spirited, culturally-clipped, morally-upright, and happy citizenry.”
The resilience, passion, and commitment of these teachers during these trying times have become a source of inspiration for others.
As the teachers prepare for SY 2020-2021, the Department of Education (DepEd) is keen in providing support for these modern-day heroes.
This is in line with the Department’s unwavering commitment to work with Filipino teachers to deliver quality education despite the circumstances.
The collective efforts of the academic community, as well as the Filipino spirit of Bayanihan, are what will ultimately make the incoming school year a success.