Behavioral Intervention for Distressed Learners During Emergencies in Education

Robina R. Sabino

Learners are among the most vulnerable groups to acquire the Coronavirus Disease of 2019 (COVID-19) and are in their stressed situations due to distance learning. With the stresses of strict quarantine measures, lockdown, and health protocols, learners are prone to developing mental health problems.

In responding to that, the DepEd issued DO No. 14, s. 2020, which equipped the school officials and teachers in training, reporting, and responding to mental health issues that may arise on the employees and the learners. Necessary intervention and support that may be provided for them are also specified, along with the materials used to address such issues. However, the extent of support and implementation is yet to be identified.

Indeed, learners need behavioral intervention support to boost their motivation and interest in learning and develop desirable behavior amid the ill effects of the pandemic. The teachers and parents play a significant role in detecting behavioral problems that the child may encounter in delivering various learning modalities; hence, a collaboration between them is a must. They must provide a conducive learning environment and support mechanisms to make learners feel safe and sound.

In a study conducted by De Leon and Pecson (2017), they stated that the learners are in the best condition when they feel secured, unchanged, and well-taken care of. Such a conducive learning environment means that learners can find and promote peace, collaboration, a higher form of learning, respect for others, and equality. Teachers can provide a supportive and inclusive learning environment addressing the perennial problems many learners wrestle at the very least.

When learners feel protected and unharmed, they perform at their best and manage their own pace of learning effectively. Teachers and parents need to respond to the varying needs, preferences, and interests of the children and the challenges they encountered along the process. Learners have varying needs and disabilities, and there should be a mechanism in-placed in addressing such.

There are many manifestations that teachers and parents may see on the child’s behavior that is indicative of the negative impact of the current situation on their behavior. As the saying goes: prevention is better than cure. Introducing early behavioral interventions may help learners transcend stress, anxiety, depression, and other mental health problems.

****

The author is T-II at San Pedro Palcarangan Elementary School, Lubao West District