DepEd tells stakeholders to ‘work around your fears’ to ensure learning continuity
Published May 21, 2020, 3:18 PM
With the new learning modalities to be implemented, the Department of Education (DepEd) underscored the big role of parents and guardians, or adults in general, in the education of children this school year.
(DepEd / MANILA BULLETIN FILE PHOTO)
“Learning will become more of a shared activity if the learners will be forced to stay at home depending on the overall health situation,” Education Secretary Leonor Briones explained after announcing that the formal opening of classes for School Year (SY) 2020-2021 will be on August 24.
Given the crucial role of adults in the education of the children, Briones urged them to be open to the changes and help the children adjust into their new learning environment. “We would like to assure the parents that we are doing all we can and we are aware of their anxiety, of their worries because we are also undergoing the same levels of anxiety,” she said. “We’re all in the same boat but we’re doing all we can in the realm of the possible because we cannot just give up,” she added.
Instead of instilling anxiety and insecurity to learners amid the situation, Briones urged the adults to “work around” their own fears. “We don’t know when this thing will blow over so, in the meantime, you cannot have nine months of idle children being restrained in their homes and having no classes or no learning at all because we are afraid—we have to move,” she said.
Not a viable option
For DepEd, skipping an entire school year without holding any form of classes may not be a viable option.
“Can you imagine what will happen to the children if their learning process will stop because we are afraid?” Briones asked.
Beyond knowledge and learning competencies, Briones highlighted the importance of teaching children courage, hope, and accepting change. “We have to teach these things because knowledge changes everyday and it will continue to change,” she said.
“We might not be able to keep pace with changes in knowledge but if we teach children how to be courageous, to be brave, to be hopeful, to be excited and if we are able to instill that in our learners—that would be a great thing,” Briones added.
While DepEd recognizes the concerns of stakeholders, Briones also urged them to help the agency in implementing the LCP this coming school year. “If they’re afraid, I am also afraid too but that is what life is all about—to face your fears, to face your anxieties, to find ways of dealing with all of these things.”
As DepEd transitions to the “new normal,” Briones appealed to the stakeholders to be flexible in accepting the changes. “It’s a whole new normal so we have to live with it as best as we can and I have every confidence that we will succeed,” she ended.
