This year’s theme for the celebration of National Teachers’ Month (which ended yesterday, Oct. 5) called for all teachers to perform two significant functions. First, to take the lead in our daily tasks despite the ongoing pandemic. Second, to reimagine the future of teaching and learning.
As millennials would often say, “How to be you po?” Allow me to echo that question once more, “How to be you nga po?” Despite the difficulties and inconveniences they are currently confronted with, teachers have remained resilient, creative, and flexible in embracing the new normal. Proof of this include:
a) using personal and community resources for the printing of instructional materials; b) delivering instructional materials by either swimming rivers or trekking mountains;c) going to highest peaks to establish internet connection;
d) investing in smartphones and internet connectivity packages to sustain communication with parents and students.
UST Junior High School has long invested in technology that optimized the use of existing learning management for its “learning anytime, anywhere” project, which it gradually implemented years before this pandemic. Indeed, all schools have kept up according to their context.
The big challenge remains moving forward as we rethink ways for a seamless shift from old practices to the new normal, and how to sustain them. Let teachers not forget that the lessons they impart to students, whether they are practical, technical, or metaphysical, are essential ingredients of the learners’ understanding of the world. But to change the world, it begins with us teachers, as we push our learners toward a change in positive behavior, a growth mindset, and change in actions.
As we end the month-long celebration, let us also think of what we can do to reach out to our students, especially those who have been marginalized because of the health crisis. Let us put our collective efforts into bringing quality education to their homes and hearts. Happy World Teacher’s Day to all!
EMMANUEL M. BATULAN
Executive Assistant
Office of the Secretary-General
Mathematics Facilitator
UST Junior High School
embatulan@ust.edu.ph