It’s been a year since the government imposed a nationwide lockdown to contain the spread of the virus. Different sectors of our society were severely affected. Above all, health and education faced major transitions.
The Commission on Higher Education and the Department of Education strategized on how to effectively provide quality education to students in the middle of the pandemic. Classes resumed through the use of blended learning methods.
Teachers in communities serve as frontliners in providing quality education; they are mandated to print and distribute modules to their students in far-flung areas and learn how to use computers and applications. Radio-based instruction (RBI) and other new methods requiring internet connection were also introduced.
This means it wasn’t only students that had to make adjustments under the new set-up. Our teachers, especially those in remote areas, also endured a lot of stress in providing modules and teaching through RBI and online platforms.
In particular, teachers 55 years old and above have been having difficulties in using gadgets and applications such as Zoom, email, and Google Classroom. What makes it more heartbreaking is that despite their efforts to adapt to new technologies, they are not appreciated and are often subject to abuse and shaming by their own students. I will never forget how one student blamed and cursed his old teacher in their group chat for his own incompetence and failure.
To students and teachers, let us help and be considerate to one another as we face the same hardships in this pandemic. Let us respect each other’s dignity and contributions as members of society. Remember what American poet Richard Howard said: “Give your teachers the respect they deserve because they are the ones who can help you get where you need to go.”
FRANK JOE MOJICA, instructor, Palawan State University Roxas Campus, fj_mojica@psu.palawan.edu.ph