Parents urged to be more patient with children as distance learning looms

Parents must remember to be more patient with their children when taking on some of their teachers' duties due to distance learning amid the COVID-19 pandemic, a professor said Monday.

Dr. Feliece Yeban of Philippine Normal University issued the reminder as schools prepare to open classes marked by distance learning on August 24.

“We need support para sa mga magulang kasi iyong posisyon ng teacher, mada-download kay parent. Dapat ma-capacitate natin ang parent,” Yeban said in a virtual forum.

“Baka kasi paluin ang bata kapag hindi nila natututunan [kaagad] ang inaaral, kaya dapat ihanda rin natin ang parents. Dapat mahaba ang pasensiya nila,” Yeban added.

She added that more than ensuring a stable internet connection and the availability of gadgets, the biggest challenge in the coming school year is the physical absence of teachers.

“Ang online learning, nagiging successful kapag independent ang learners. Unfortunately, ang Filipino learners, hindi independent,” Yeban said.

“Naka-depend sila sa teacher nila. Ngayon, wala si teacher na magtututro physically. At iyong pagtuturo nang hindi physically present, based on [self-learning] modules, broadcast, kasama na ang online learning, hindi pa rin gaanong nae-explore ng kaguruan natin ‘yan,” Yeban added.

Education Undersecretary Nepo Malaluan earlier said that students and teachers are not required to purchase laptops, desktop and internet connection under the blended learning system for the upcoming school year as long as they avail of the Modified Modular Distance Learning program.

Under the said strategy, learners will be provided self-learning packets in print or digital format while teachers will use mobile messenger chat or text messages to monitor and track the learners.

At least 17 million out of the 27 million basic education students have already enrolled for the academic year despite the absence of face-to-face classes due to the COVID-19 threat.

“Iyong digital divide is just the tip of the iceberg. Madali lang [i-bridge] ang digital divide, sa totoo lang, kung may commitment ang national government, local government units at private sector. Political will [ang kailangan],” Yeban said.

“Ang main problem, ang more complicated, ay iyong instructional design, paradigm of education natin. Iyan ang mas matinding dapat mapag-usapan ngayon,” she added. — BM, GMA News