Paula Marie Runio is extremely worried.
This school year, she enrolled her two children in a public school in Quezon City despite the continued threat of COVID-19. While it is a relief that there will be no face-to-face classes, another realization struck her: how to teach her children now that learning will essentially be home-based.
Runio, who lost her job amid the pandemic, shared her concerns in a virtual press conference organized by the Alliance of Concerned Teachers (ACT) Philippines on Saturday.
Her children – both incoming Grade 6 students – have been spending most of their days inside the house since Metro Manila is still under General Community Quarantine (GCQ) until the end of the month.
“Ang sistema namin ngayon sa bahay, self-study sila (They’re self-studying at home),” Runio shared.
Among the learning delivery modalities offered by the Department of Education (DepEd), Runio and her children chose the printed modular option due to lack of gadgets, stable Internet connection, and resources to sustain it, especially online learning. “Pero sa pagpili ko ng modules, may mga problema din pala na kaakibat (Even when I chose modules, there were still problems),” she added.
While her children are ready to go back, albeit remotely, to school on Monday, Oct. 5, Runio is worried that she would not be able to give the guidance they need. “Inaala ko din, paano ngayon na ang modules na ipinamamahagi nila ay hindi sapat (I am also worried that there will not be enough modules for distribution), she said. “Ako lang mag-isa ang nagpapa-aral sa kanila kaya’t inaalala ko din yung pang-araw-araw na gastusin (I’m the only one who supports their education so I’m also worried about our daily expenses),” she explained.
To support parents like Runio to fully understand how the distance/learning modalities would work, the Department of Education (DepEd) has conducted training for 12,321,571 parents or guardians nationwide.
DepEd said that it will also hire Learning Support Aides (LSAs) who can work together with a teacher in providing learning opportunities, especially to students who need help or those with parents that are not capable of teaching them.
Despite these concerns, Rubio is determined to continue her children’s studies. She also urged parents, especially those who are struggling like her, not to give up. “Isipin po natin kung paano natin magagampanan ang ating tungkulin sa pag-aaral ng ating mga anak (Let’s think how we can fulfill our duties in the learning continuity of our children),” she said.
Aside from giving them time and guidance, Runio also urged her fellow parents to seek help – if necessary – to get by. “Sana din po ang gobyerno ay tugunan ang aming mga pangagailangan lalo na ngayong pasukan sa gitna ng pandemya (We express hope that the government will help us this school year amid the pandemic),” she ended.