Effective Collaborative Learning Groups: A Must-Have Tool for Successful Face-to-Face Class Openings

Eva Lorena M. Tamaño

Several selected schools in the country have recently begun a pilot run of the limited face-to-face lessons. Many school stakeholders, including teachers, parents, and students, aided one another in the months leading up to their successful restricted inperson class opening. Before the opening, there had been extensive preparations for the physical setting of the selected schools, teacher training, conferences with school stakeholders and communities, dry runs, and much more. We could conclude that all those efforts and cooperation paid off because those schools overcame the hurdles they had along the way and are now able to continue offering their limited face-to-face programs.

I want to express my heartfelt gratitude to everyone actively involved in bringing limited face-to-face to the nation's select schools. This milestone of returning students to school would not have been accomplished during the pandemic without their determination. My heartfelt gratitude goes out to those government leaders who have taken substantial steps to allow the Department of Education to take early efforts, such as piloting limited in-person classes. My gratitude to all DepEd key officials for their unwavering services, experience, and direction was conveyed with all select school personnel till they could comply with all required in the pilot run. My heartfelt gratitude goes to the other support agencies, such as the Department of Health, for their medical assistance and concerns, as well as the Local Government Units (LGUs) for their partnerships with schools included in the pilot run and other support groups, because without the expertise, resources, and knowledge you have been sharing with schools, school personnel would not have made it this far. Of course, my heartfelt gratitude goes to the parents who have agreed to enable their children to participate in the pilot run, as this effort would not be feasible without the students. You are, indeed, one of the nation's and the world's living heroes.

This successful limited in-person class opening exemplifies the joint effort of many people from many backgrounds. This is all it says. Indeed, education is a priority for everyone. Without the assistance and support of the community and other support groups and agencies, the school cannot provide a high-quality education. Thus, great education stems from a quality school as well as a quality community and government.

Let us all contribute to transforming better education, better individuals, and a better nation.

--oOo-

The author is Teacher III at Naltep Elementary School, Sofronio Española District, Schools Division of Palawan, MIMAROPA Region