Role of the School in this New Normal

Joel E. Masangkay

The school has been our pedagogical institution in enhancing the knowledge, skills and talents of every youth and still also by elderly. Any school can give a chance to develop its pupil to maximize his potentials. Through the educational system, it is mostly an essential for us to be educated by the schools. In the Philippines, every June of the year marks the start of the school year and it ends every March or April. The school year is divided into 4 quarters wherein the learning competencies are divided into this quarters. Each quarters have final assessment which is called an exam. The usual set-up in school system is face-to-face learning. But what happens now if the government’s task force against Covid-19 forbids this. How can learning take place? Will there be still continuation of classes this school year or was it postponed? All of this where hot issues before June 2020.

Private Schools paved its way to make this school year’s learning modality thru online learning. Each enrolled pupils were given orientations on how this new normal learning technique will make it possible for learning to take place. But was it effective? Is online learning modality will make each learners understand or learn even you are merely talking in front of your laptop? Well in other countries, online learning has already been a part of their curriculum. Online learning opens a new door for possibility of embracing the Information Technology Era thus it’s also inviting a futuristic learning management. The Private Schools have made its intervention to still continue education and that is through online learning modality. While the pupils are at the comfort of their home listening and understanding their teachers talking through a media platform, they still use their books and other materials to accomplish any activity that the teachers had instructed.

The Public School however managed to adapt to this new normal learning set-up. But due to the reality of some pupils studying in public school, they cannot afford or have at least a lifestyle that supports the demand to use technology in learning. Most of our pupils has no access to use gadgets of their own and even an internet connection. So instead of just letting things done, the Public Schools have ensured that all will be treated equally and continue learning for this School Year 2020 -2021. The public school choose Modular Distance Learning to live up with the demands and needs of learning continuity to all Filipino youth including their socio-economic status at this time of pandemic. With modular learning, all will be expensed by the DepEd and other materials that is necessary in learning and achieving the Most Essential Learning Competencies. W ith the use of modular learning, all public school enrolled pupils will be given free self-learning kits including the Modules and Learning Activity Sheets. All of this will be given weekly for a new lesson to be tackled or discussed.

The school has been a partner of our community to sustain a better future in every Filipino youth. At this point of pandemic, we may have a risk, but we will not win if we don’t take that risk. Education must still continue even at this very moment. All pupils must have given a chance to be educated that’s the reason why DepEd with its agency in both public and private had made their ways to still promote learning continuity amidst of the Covid-19 pandemic. That is why parents should take considerations in enrolling their children this School Year 2020 - 2020. Because a year of not allowing them to study, is same as depriving their rights to be educated, as well as violating the constitutional law of our country.

The author is Principal

--oOo-

II at Cutud Elementary School