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Teachers go on 'call center mode' for distance learning test run

Teachers at the Cotabato City National High School seemed to be working at a call center when they conducted a pilot test for the use of cellphones for distance learning amid the pandemic.

According to Manal Sugadol’s Tuesday report on “Stand for Truth,” the teachers gathered in a room with their respective devices and earphones on to give lectures to 25 students for the test run.

Each student got 10 to 20 minutes with their teacher for questions on the lesson.

“In actual kasi, we’ll be having 40 students or more, mga 40 to 45. So sa 25 pa lang, honestly, it’s really hard to reach all those students na ilang oras lang ‘yung binigay sa amin kasi next na naman na subject,” teacher Lex Amor Dela Torre said.

The students and their parents also noted some difficulties in the pilot run.

“Kung meron pong hindi maintindihan, kailangan ko pa pong magpa-load para matawagan ang aking guro. Kung tatawag ako kay ma’am, iba pa rin ‘yung explanation in person kesa sa through call,” Khalil Abdul said.

“Ang problema lang po kung ‘yung isang parent illiterate po. Papaano na lang po ‘yung anak niya o estudyante kung pareho lang po sila na hindi naiintindihan ‘yung nababasa nila,” his mom Cleopatra added.

The Department of Education (DepEd) assured stakeholders that there is nothing to worry about since there are many modalities of teaching and learning that they may choose from.

“Ang distance learning, iba iba ang pamamaraan niyan. Meron ‘yan ‘yung tinatawag nating printed or digital module. Meron niyan ‘yung online, meron niyan ‘yung tinatawag nating TV [at] radio,” Education Undersecretary Jess Mateo said.

A DepEd memorandum also states that teachers are entitled to psychological first aid, psychosocial support, and a one-time load allowance of P3,500.

“Nagbigay na po tayo sa pamamagitan ng allowance at nilagay natin dito ‘yung allowance na matatanggap nila ay pupuwedeng kahit ano… ginawa nga po nating mas broad ‘yung coverage nitong allowance na ‘to para sa gano’n hindi na sila magpapaalam kung sa’n gagamitin,” Mateo explained.

Education Secretary Leonor Briones earlier maintained that the upcoming school year will still open on August 24 despite a new law allowing the president to move the date in case of a state of calamity or emergency.

Meanwhile, limited face-to-face classes are eyed by January 2021. -Julia Mari Ornedo/MDM, GMA News