There is a need to restructure. But it's not all about changing the school calendar.

  

by Anna Liza VB

 

***The writer is a former full-time media practitioner prior to being a full-time mom and freelance writer. She was also a former part-time teacher, and had a brief stint at a private school in the Philippines, at the turn of the Y2K decade.

 

The article below is an opinion on the challenges of current changes made in the education calendar and with inputs on the other changes on what can be done to make education more liberal, accepting, and democratic to all families enrolling their kids for basic education in the country.

2^nd of a series

 

In 2019, the country adopted an education platform never tried before on such an intensive scale.  Parents were compelled to jump in without much preparation and prior knowledge on how online education would ensue in times of pandemic.

General information was given and an ordinary parent, wanting to continue the schooling for her/his child/ren could only adjust to the new situation.

The first leap to ONLINE EDUCATION is learning from the fragmented resources available that would guide one through the essentials of a basic homeschool setup. Some of the resources available regarding online schooling, specifically the methods and specifics of instructions, may not be comprehensive, concise, or fully consistent with the ones that were actually used and implemented. But for the basics, the common ground was as follows:

THE ROAD TO HOMESCHOOL/ BLENDED LEARNING (the equipment that had to be acquired to make  online learning viable for Filipino parents and students):

                                                                                     

§  A camera meant for web learning that is suggested with HD lenses to make the viewing clear and undimmed.

§  A professional quality headset. This must not be an ordinary headset but one of heavy-duty quality to ensure the student and teacher has no background noise; and the voice quality during the learning session would be audible enough to be heard by either party.

§  A  not-too-old computer updated with software that can be used for lessons and with antivirus preferably.

§  A homeschool desk that would be sufficient to hold the student’s books and computer during the online session.

§   A study area devoid of clutter and preferably with a clear or white backdrop.

Surveying on the initial expenses, it could fetch an average of Php 20,000-Php 50,000 initially depending on the specifications of the equipment bought.

The thing with having a homeschooling setup is, even if it makes easy a standardized learning environment for the student, the equipment that must be sourced during the pandemic may not be readily available. Considering the right specs and the budget availability at the time of the pandemic, the homeschool setup may not be a fair expense to have, and such costs could directly impact a usual family budget of a simple household.

Two years after the new approach to education was affected, the following weaknesses could be felt in terms of, learning effectiveness, method of instruction and homeschool vulnerabilities:

In terms of learning effectiveness, a kid initially would have to learn in a very speedy manner the hows and the whys of the keyboard and other computer paraphernalia== a skill that must be learned in time, even by adults. Thankfully the current modern attitudes toward gadget use proved to be beneficial in “adjusting” to the homeschool setup but not with a few difficulties in place such as:

o   THE UNRELIABLE COMPUTER PARAPHERNALIA THAT CAN EASILY BREAK DOWN OR FAIL;

o   THE INTERNET CONNECTION THAT CAN HAVE A LOT OF LAGS AND DELAYS TO CONNECTION DESPITE THE SUBSCRIPTION SERVICE ONE AVAIL;

o   THE LENGTHY ONLINE LESSONS OR THE DURATION OF A SCHOOL DAY’S WORTH THAT CAN AFFECT THE INTEREST OF THE CHILD; AND PRESENT SOME POSTURE PROBLEMS FOR THE KID SITTED LONG IN FRONT OF THE COMPUTER;

o   THE INTRODUCTION TO ADDITIONAL COMPUTER APPLICATIONS THAT PROVE TO BE DIFFICULT TO LEARN BY A YOUNG LEARNER  WITHOUT PROPER PREPARATION.

SUFFICE IT TO SAY THE EARLY MONTHS OF THE ONLINE LEARNING HAD A LOT OF ADJUSTMENTS TAKING IN THE HOUSEHOLD OF THE LEARNER, AND EVEN A LEARNER HAD TO COPE WITH SUCH ADJUSTMENTS AT A VERY YOUNG AGE.

The disparity in the conveniences of such an online learning environment for the parent aside from the one that it presents to a learner against that of the traditional learning one has been accustomed to, includes: that of the spending requirements necessitated by such school setup. 

Also, to push such a schooling path, the introduction of new software and computer applications that are not usually used other than for work and creative use are almost obligatory for the parent of the learner.

The unequal access to affordable and reliable computer equipment, accessories, and gadgets can result in inconsistent school performance; delay in the submission of requirements and assignments. Moreover, the lengthy school hours can further add to the inconveniences of the usual home chores and daily routine adjustments that had to be made in times of the pandemic for a simple household.

Bottomline a change in the schedule of the opening of classes had a minimum bearing and was much more dispensible, compared to the adjustments that had to be made in terms of spending essentials and coping with the demands for computer proficiency. But the adjustments nevertheless were a necessary struggle a normal parent would bite into to make way for proper education in times of the pandemic.

To be continued…

 

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