It has been two years since the Covid-19 hit the country and affected much the education system. Since then, some schools implemented blended learning. Researchers, meanwhile, say modular learning was most preferred by parents and teachers around the globe.
For the past two years of modular learning, parents, siblings, or any family member served as learning facilitators at home. Some learners whose parents cannot read and write sought help from their classmates. Modular learning during the pandemic was not reliable because there was no assurance the children working on their modules at home are guided properly, especially if their parents are working. Self-learning by learners was difficult at the time.
During the opening of this school year, the Department of Education has allowed blended learning for schools lacking classrooms while full face-to-face classes was allowed for schools with enough classrooms. As the school days go on, it was found that learners from the two-year modular learning, especially those from elementary to grades 7 and 8, were behind in spelling, reading, and comprehension; Mathematics; and scientific abilities compared to learners of in-person classes before the pandemic. This is alarming. Tutorial or remedial classes should be done to bridge the learning gap. In the conduct of remedial classes, there should be less pressure. Learning must be fun and shorter period must be implemented so the learner will not be stressed.
Due to low level of comprehension among learners in the basic education sector, the old style of teacher-learning must still be applied at this age of information and communication technology. If there’s a need to go back to letter sounds, spelling, reading syllables, storytelling, memorization of multiplication table, basic Science and Mathematics formula accompanied by indigenous knowledge and lessons, then so be it.
Learners nowadays are hooked to their gadgets and it’s difficult to divert their attention to learning. They have more time for computer and mobile games than playing outdoors. They prefer and rely on words they read on social media even if the spelling is wrong rather than reading text books, dictionaries and other reliable reading materials. Learners rely on calculators than computing orally even if the Math to be solved is basic.
Parents rely on schools for the education of their children, without realizing teachers alone cannot educate the children. Children’s education is a shared responsibility of schools and parents. While teachers are doing their best to educate learners, parents also should cooperate and partake in the discipline and teaching-learning of the child by giving enough time and space for children at home to make their assignment, project, or read their lessons. Study tables should also be provided at home to make it conducive for learning. Educational toys could also be introduced to learners at home like scrabble, boggles, chessboard, sungka, badminton, guitar, or indigenous games for leisure time rather than playing computer games. These are only among the ways learning can be enhanced at home.
