Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, July 11) – Monday is officially the last day of public school classes in the current academic year in the country.
Some students and teachers admitted the past year was particularly difficult, as they grappled with the challenges of distance learning amid the pandemic.
One high school student shared how he needed to work harder, including selling noodles on the street, so he could afford to buy gadgets and internet load for his online studies.
With all the distractions, he admitted he had a hard time understanding his lessons.
“Minsan wala pong gadgets, minsan walang pambili ng gadgets. Mahirap po talaga, (Sometimes, we don’t have gadgets. Sometimes, we don’t have the money to buy gadgets. It’s really hard,)” said Carlos Sepe.
Carlos was not alone in his struggles. Even teachers complained how hard the past year was for them.
Teacher Joselyn Fegalan of Imelda Elementary School in Malabon couldn’t help but get emotional as she explained why some parents could not properly assist their children with school. She said it was because they were too busy trying to make a living and making ends meet.
“Naiintindihan po namin ito ‘yung burden ng mga magulang ngayon. Nag-post conference nga last Friday, iyakan talaga ang teachers at magulang, emotional. Gusto nila mairaos kaya lang hirap talaga sila. Nakakaawa,” she said.
[Translation: We understand the burden on the parents now. During our post conference last Friday, the teachers cried and the parents were emotional. They want their children to pass but they were struggling. It was pitiful.]
“Kung bibigyan ko ng general average ‘yung kasalukuyang blended learning, 70 talaga or failed (If I could give the current blended learning system a general average, it would be 70 or failed,)” Fegalan said.
She said teachers would often shoulder the expenses needed for online learning.
For Teacher Ruby Bernardo from Quezon City, aside from a health crisis, the country is also facing a learning crisis.
“Sobrang pagod na pagod ‘yung mga teachers simula pa nung June 1 kung kelan kami simula pumasok. Ako personally ‘yung pagod na ‘to sa sampung taon na nagtuturo ako, di ko naranasan sa isang dekada na nagtuturo sa high school dahil sobrang exhausted,” said Bernardo.
[Translation: The teachers have all been worn out since June 1, when we first started working. I have not experienced this kind of exhaustion in my ten years of teaching in high school.]
Department of Education officials said they are satisfied with the effort they exerted despite the many challenges they faced during the past year.
“Considering the challenges, sobra naman kami sa pasang-awa [we deserve more than just a passing grade]. I would always say 8 out of 10, so we have fulfilled our mandate through the help of the whole society. We were able to provide learning continuity for the youngsters,” said Usec. Diosdado San Antonio.
The DepEd said it will intensify the distribution of modules in the next school year, assuring that they will contain no more errors.
It is also preparing for the eventual resumption of face-to-face learning. In case the President gives the green light, the department said it will start the dry run in areas with the lowest number of COVID-19 cases.
