Teachers’ Resilience Amidst Global Pandemic COVID - 19

Ana Maureen M. Manansala

Despite the pandemic's devastating effects, this worldwide calamity has presented an unparalleled opportunity for learning. We learn about the adaptability and resilience of educational institutions, policymakers, educators, learners, and families.

Many teachers' responsibilities in providing quality education to our learners were changed, two essential things have changed, and these are because of the pandemic. First and foremost, pedagogical innovations, such as adapting traditional in-person lecturing techniques to a remote learning environment, this has been shown to be vital. Regardless of the learning modes used, teachers had to adjust their techniques and be innovative to keep students engaged (radio, TV, mobile, online platforms, etc.). Without an environment that supports learning, every household has become a classroom. Second, the pandemic has caused teachers to reconsider how they divide their time between teaching, student interaction, and administrative obligations. The pandemic has highlighted the need for more flexibility and time for student-teacher collaboration.

Teachers had to strike balance between teaching and delivering feedback to students in online learning, filling out administrative reports, and caring for their families. Teachers were needed to conform to unusual circumstances, teaching in novel ways, utilizing synchronous and asynchronous instruction, while also attempting to form bonds with students, families, and colleagues. As some teachers returned to in-person schooling during the peak of the pandemic, health concerns were added to the mix.

Teachers, based on anecdotal evidence, will be responsible for assuring that learners have masteries, and schools reopen, which is critical for economic development. Policymakers and educational leaders will be needing in working together to ensure that teachers have working circumstances and resources they need to carry out their critical role as educators which will take on new meaning after the pandemic. This could be a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to act in this newfound respect for teachers by giving them greater clout at the table when it comes to discussions about education, working conditions, and their own role in the aftermath of the epidemic.

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The author is Teacher I at San Pedro National High School