by Lalyn M. Barcena
This new school year started again while we are still in a pandemic. Educators and learners will meet again online. Sometimes on-site but just for the learners to pick up their modules and drop their answer sheets. There were those who got stressed out just upon working on their first modules. Others were very much eager to attend face-to-face classes but which was still not possible with the emergence of different COVID-19 variants.
Parents and/or guardians will again activate their energy and mental faculties in their so-called “Module Legends” game with their children and/or wards. But with the lockdowns imposed every time there is a surge of covid cases, majority of parents still prefer distance learning which is the practical option.
On the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic, school year 2020-to 2021, there was a huge increase of public-school enrollees. Noted was the number of “transferred-In” learners from private schools. Another were the “balik-aral” learners who, while enrolled, could still work or do “puldiya” as popularly called in our place.
Most private schools utilize online classes which add monetary burden to parents and learners due to gadget and internet connection requirements, in addition to tuition, miscellaneous and other fees. The costs of these may equal the usual expenses of some learners even during face-to-face classes considering their transportation and food allowances, but, when recession impacts family budgets, they are forced to make choices about spending, often avoiding unnecessary cash-outs.
Indeed, this pandemic caused havoc not only to families’ economic standing, but to the global economy as a whole. Thus, so many switched from private to public schools where printed modules are given out for free.
Some public-school learners adopted modular/blended learning with self-studying and research; even using shared applications on Facebook, You Tube and Google. Some rely on support systems like families, friends and/or tutors. Education in a home environment affected the learning process as it is a new normal for learners and educators, and even for parents or guardians. But still education must continue.
Enrolling in public schools helps the goal of every parent for a continuous education for their children despite this pandemic that caused, and is still causing, financial setbacks to families everywhere. While there are questions on the resiliency or capacity of parents to aid their children with their modules, there are still good things to appreciate. One is: “Students-At-Home” may mean “safety, security and practicality.” **
