Long break ‘may bore’ students

CEBU, Philippines —  While the postponement of school opening to October 5 gives teachers more wiggle room to fine-tune their modules and prepare for blended learning, they are also concerned that student interest may suffer because of the prolonged deferment.

“Ang among gikuyawan ani tungod sa kadugay, ang laay sa mga students inig module, di na hinuon ganahan mo-answer (What we are concerned about is the deferred opening. Students may get bored and by the time the modules are given to them, they may not be interested answering them),” said Remus Marinas, Regional Federation of Teachers Association (RFTA)-7 president, in an interview with The FREEMAN.

She said the students’ prolonged detachment from academic activities may become a part of their system.

“Kay naanad na ba nga wala nay buhaton, then kalitan og mga modules nga naay deadline. Ang mindset ani nila maoy dakong challenge ron (Because they have been used to not doing anything academic. And then they are suddenly given modules with deadline. Their mindset is a great challenge now),” added Marinas, who teaches in Apas National High School in Cebu City.

Aside from the long pause, other factors that may affect student interest, she said, are the fact that students are just at home, receiving no allowance and not personally interacting with classmates. Plus, they have household chores to do.

With the student interest in question, teachers are also getting apprehensive as to who will really answer the modules.

“Mao nay dakong problema. Unsaon namo pagka-sure na sila (students) jud ang nag-answer sa mga modules,” said Randyl June Villarosa, a teacher from Gothong Memorial National High School.

With this, Villarosa said parents or guardians’ role is crucial in blended learning. Although parents need to assist the teachers in delivering the lessons, they are also expected to instill honesty and let the students actually do their homeworks.

To recall, President Rodrigo Duterte approved Education Secretary Leonor Briones’ recommendation to postpone the opening of the new school year in response to the implications of imposition of Modified Enhanced Community Quarantine (MECQ) in Metro Manila and in the provinces of Cavite, Bulacan, Laguna and Rizal.

Areas outside MECQ, on the other hand, have been directed to continue their orientations, dry runs, and delivery of learning resources while private schools which have already started with their classes may continue to do so, provided they strictly use distance learning modalities and no face-to-face classes. — KQD (FREEMAN)