My Challenges as a Teacher in the New Normal

Raquel B. Rivera

The lives of people were turned upside down by the sudden outbreak of the COVID-19. It seemed that their normal ways of living were dragged into hell. No preparations were made by the different institutions not only here in the Philippines but even in other countries across the globe. Since most of the fields were not ready with the threats brought about by this pandemic, coping mechanisms were adopted. In the Department of Education, in order that the operations of various schools would not be paralyzed this academic year, different learning delivery modalities were suggested to be implemented by the latter. In this manner, students would still be able to acquire the necessary learning competencies as to prepare themselves in the battlefield called life. However, this attempt by the department was not easy. It looked like as the first birthing of a mother for all of us especially for teachers.

At the beginning of my journey as a teacher in this what we call “new normal,” was not as easy as other people think. With the preparation of the self-learning materials to be distributed to all the learners who would be under my supervision, it looked to be a 24-hour shift at work. Reviewing the lessons to determine the topics that could cover the most essential learning competencies would not be a laid-back moment for me. Thinking whether the activities I made are parallel to the activities found in the textbook and other references could be harder than what you think. I could not really imagine until now how I was able to complete the modules. When the modular prints and digitized copies were accomplished, I could not tell myself how my learners could go along with them with my less supervision. I could not see how the parents of my learners could help them especially those who were not able to finish their schooling. I could not think how my learners and their parents could easily communicate with me the difficulties they could encounter along their academic journey. When the day came, as I distributed the modules to the parents, I could observe on their faces that they were just hesitant to ask on how could they deal with the modules to help their children. Since it was our first time doing it, what I just suggested to them to do was to monitor their children whether they were answering the activities. As I expected, parents and learners kept on reaching to me through text, call or chat as they asked me on how they would answer particular activities. Imagine, how chaotic would that be answering different individuals on a day. It was really too hard.

However, whenever I thought of my oath as an educator of young hearts and minds, the challenges I had, became an opportunity for me to learn the values of patience, perseverance and faith. I could all accomplish all the tasks entrusted to me by the Department of Education through God’s intervening grace and presence. With pride, I could shout to the world that I am a front liner of quality education

--oOo-

The author is Teacher II at Sitio Culubasa Elementary School