Online delivery, not an online class

WHEN the Department of Education (DepEd) announced the resumption of classes this school year, a lot of parents and guardians were apprehensive and fearful because they knew they could not obtain gadgets required for the online learning approach. The opening of the school year became synonymous with parents flocking computer shops as well as parents and students having to work hard to earn money to acquire these gadgets. Two weeks before the opening of class, we are getting a clear view that unlike some private schools, public institutions will hardly hold online classes not because they cannot but because DepEd has to adhere to the spirit of fair play.

Online learning is similar to conducting online classes. In online classes, teachers go on with their class routine only it utilizes online teaching platforms such as Zoom and Google Meet in their teaching delivery. In joining the meeting, the students are virtually present and teachers can have a good look at them. Activities can be given and discussions can be steered. I believe this was what DepEd had in mind when it suggested that education will adopt the online learning approach as part of the blended learning umbrella system. Previous surveys show that the majority of the students have at least gadgets to use in online learning but the agency soon realized that the surveys do not reflect the realities at the grassroots level. Stories of families about their struggle to obtain a gadget flooded the news. Online learning such as conducting online classes will only put the poor in a disadvantaged position.

There was a bit of confusion among the students and parents when some schools offered an online delivery preference. Some students thought that this is similar in having online classes. It convinced them and their parents to choose this delivery mode because literally, they have gadgets and high-speed internet service enabling them to join online classes.

However, teachers had to explain that modules are only sent online and that’s all there is to it. The modules are sent online so the advantage is they do not need to go out to pick up their modules from the schools or go to the barangay centers where the school, in coordination with the local police and barangay officials, dropped their printed modules. The problem in online delivery, however, is, learners still need to print out these modules if they want a hard copy of them. They still need to print out the answer sheets to be sent to their teachers for assessment purposes.

"The company observes health standards and that was the reason why the workers were not allowed to go out was because of their safety and to prevent them from being exposed outside due to the coronavirus," said Campita, adding that safety and health protocols such as foot bathing and hand sanitizing are being observed before entering the premises of the steel plant.

She however said that minor violations have been found out during random interviews but corrective measures have been put up to improve the operations and management of the steel factory.

On the claims of a national TV anchor on social media regarding alleged “maltreatment, abuse and rescue” of employees, Campita noted during a phone interview with media the concerned workers voluntarily tendered their resignation. In earlier reports, the RSC management said the company has more than 400 employees and only 42 filed their resignation “not because they were maltreated or abused in the work place and that those who resigned have appealed for reinstatement.”

"Honestly I was surprised of the rescue story. There was no one to be rescued as they voluntarily resigned in the first place," said Campita during the phone interview. "Nahihiwagaan lang ako...kasi kung meron pang-aabuso at maltreatment sa kanila eh bakit gusto nilang makabalik sa trabaho? "

She furthered that the 42 workers are now considered as locally stranded individuals temporarilystaying at the municipal hall building while waiting for their travel papers to be processed. The local government unit and the Department of Social Welfare and Development provided a pack of grocery items for each of them.

"They are under the custody of the San Simon local government while waiting for compensation from RSC," said Campita, adding that the steel factory management assured the 42 workers of their compensation including unpaid wages amounting to more than a million pesos.

She said computations have already been made by RSC management and promised that the compensation to the workers will be released during a meeting at the DOLE-3 office on Tuesday, September 29. (JTD)