By Anthony A. Araos
As part of efforts to upgrade teachers on revised curriculum applications and give Ifugao students more time to develop fundamental skills on various important skills, the schools division office here of the Department of Education (DepEd) has conducted a four-day training workshop.
It was also geared to capacitate grades 9 and 10 public school teachers on lesson exemplars and instructional materials aligned with the latest standards.
Nearly 90 mentors attended the activity at the Ammungan Hall of the same office. Workshop attendees are from the province’s 11 towns.
The implementation of these plans will require immediate retooling of current modes as teachers are already burdened by heavy load on work tasks amid a deepening education crisis.
“When we first saw developments in other parts of the country, we felt that there were things that we could do to improve the program on basic education, to make it more conducive for learning. After all, that is what we do with the learning institutions in Ifugao,” says Karen Joyce Dulnuan of the Secretariat.
The interactive workshop easily serves as a high-impact learning hub for teachers in Ifugao, training on initiative that promote and strengthen valuable knowledge in fast-changing times. Thus, there is a reason why the activity stands distinct and is a shining star of its own. Easily, Ronald Benohlan, Arlene Tafalla and the others in the secretariat are well-recognized for their invaluable contributions.
Many, possibly, didn’t really expect the extent of revealing approaches in up-scaling learning modes for teachers to finally pursue their career paths. Generally, these are timeless learning approaches.
First and foremost, there is a longstanding need to figure out how to drastically improve teacher training. This point comes to the issue of providing higher wages that befit the needs of the overworked but underpaid teachers in the light of the high cost of living.
Another important way forward is to understand the plight of teachers in remote and underserved villagers. For instance, Richard Bahalan and Floriel Binwag are assigned in the mountain barangay ANA VHS in Lagawe.
They and the others from Asipulo, Banaue, Mayoyao and Aguinaldo, Hingyon and Tinoc are all eager and ready to take the challenges presented by technology-driven education for knowledge-secure and sustainable Ifugao.
The government then should be clear and forthright in supporting the mounting call to provide higher salaries for public school teachers.
It looks like the Ifugao teacher has a lot of things on his or her plate. Hopefully, he or she won’t forget that education is truly evolving. There are no one-size-fits all guidelines or suggestions for learners. Nor it serves as a quick walkthrough of the steps required to attain avowed goals.
Ifugao’s basic education system is approaching a crucial phase, putting it in schedule to be completely refined and retooled this coming school year.
It’s a good opportunity for educators to look to the future because school children’s holistic growth and development is so vital.
Be prepared. Education Secretary Sonny Angara is still at the helm. Assistant Schools Division Superintendent OIC Virginia Amogan-Batan is also around. Her tireless pursuit of perfection, foresight and ingenuity will surely continue to enhance the lives of those who mold the minds of the young.
Of course, this highly-successful workshop’s teachers- for their ever-generous dedication and loving care towards economically-disadvantaged learners are there and may keep another year of service.
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