The Educational Battle in the New Normal
Bonita Claire L. Roble
It is undeniable that the battle against the COVID-19 pandemic is not an easy feat. Many sectors, especially the economy and the educational system, have been deeply affected by this global crisis. However, despite the turmoil that beset us, we must still be as resilient as a bamboo to face the changing times.
There was not a day in social media that I did not see a post talking about teachers and the Department of Education (DepEd). Surely, we have been in the bandwagon since the opening of classes. Those posts humiliating teachers and the “lightness” of their job break my heart from time to time. Yes, not everybody sees what we do. Not everybody knows how much time and effort we put just to give quality education among the learners despite the pandemic.
Some teachers are even on the verge of depression and hopelessness that they lose spark in their chosen vocation. Even if I hear stories of anxiety from my colleagues, I still choose the other path. I believe that our mind is really a magnet. What we think of is what we become. In these trying times, we must remain calm and still do our part as teachers. We must write top-tier modules to our learners. When I mean “top-tier”, it does not mean that we have to include highfalutin words in the content. It means that we contextualize these modules based on the needs of the learners.
Another thing that we must practice is decisiveness. In these times of uncertainty, we should at least ensure some things in our lives. As teachers, we must immediately act upon situations or problems that need to be remedied.
In the Division of City of San Fernando, our supervisors advise us to make the activities a bit easier for the learners, or at least within their level. Some parents complain that they themselves could not read, so it is impossible for them to teach their children. This poses a great threat to this year-long academic year.
I know that this is just the beginning of our mission. It is still a long way ahead. It might be challenging, but it is not impossible. With the connivance of our determination, resilience, and dedication among the Filipino learners, I believe that we could make it.
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The author is Teacher I at San Agustin Integrated School Annex, Division of
City of San Fernando, Pampanga.