The Department of Education (DepEd) reminded parents and guardians that they do not have to take on the role of their children’s teachers as the education shifts into distance learning this school year.
DepEd issued this reminder as many parents and guardians raised concern on their mental health and overall psychosocial well-being since they are expected to monitor and supervise their children’s learning at home.
Without face-to-face classes, public and private schools are implementing distance or blended approaches wherein learning is essentially home-based. This sudden role of being fully responsible for their children’s education is taking a toll on parents and other adults at home.
Nerissa Sales, a mother of two from Puerto Princesa City, said this school year is very challenging both mentally and physically.
Months before the school opening, she was already concerned about the type of learning that her children will have to adopt this school year.
“Distance learning is really a big change for my children because the new school environment or classroom will be in our house,” Sales said.
Aside from having to balance household responsibilities, she is also forced to reduce her work load schedule to guide them during distance classes and teach them. “Everyday is an adjustment for everyone,” she admitted.
However, DepEd Undersecretary Nepomuceno Malaluan said while students are learning remotely, parents should not be pressured to take on the role of the teachers.
“It’s not true that the parent will take the place of the teacher in its entirety,” Malaluan explained. “This should be very clear to parents because their role is to motivate, provide the learning space, and give feedback to the teacher more than doing the teaching themselves,” he added.
Before classes formally start on Oct. 5, Malaluan told parents that there is going to be an adjustment process and they need to settle into the routines, requirements and realizations.
“I think, one of the first steps for psychosocial preparedness is knowing that this is a challenging time and we have to set our minds to some more responsibilities than we used to have,” Malaluan said.
Classes in public schools across all basic education levels will formally start on Oct. 5. Schools will implement a blended/distance learning approach using various alternative learning delivery modalities such as modules (printed and offline), online, and television or radio-based instruction.
Private schools, on the other hand, were allowed to start classes as long as there are no face-to-face classes and they have complied with the requirements of DepEd for distance learning.